Akron Cruises To Final Non-Conference Win With 63-44 Victory Over Malone

Saturday, December 29

Akron, Ohio

2 PM

University of Akron

9-2

Malone

4-9

Malone

Akron

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron Cruises To Final Non-Conference Win With 63-44 Victory Over Malone

December 29 | Women's Basketball

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AKRON, Ohio– Playing at home for the first time in nearly two weeks, the Akron Zips closed out 2018 with a resounding 63-44 non-conference win over the Malone Pioneers on Saturday afternoon inside James A. Rhodes Arena.

Akron cruised to its ninth win of the season and was led by a game-high 14 points by junior guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Redshirt senior guard Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) and redshirt junior forward Fredniqua Walker (Cleveland, Ohio) each contributed seven points for the Zips in the win, which was their fourth consecutive triumph to end the calendar year.

For the second time this season, every active member of the Zips roster contributed to the scoring with all 11 players scoring at least two points.

UA took part in the season of giving and sharing by way of recording an assist on 11 of their 23 made field goals in the contest. Freshman forward Colleen Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) paced the Zips with five helpers of her own while five other Akron players posted at least one dime.

The Zips 9-2 record through its first 11 games of the season is tied for the second-best start in Akron women's basketball history. It is also the fourth time in program history that an Akron team picked up nine non-conference wins.

Defense ruled the day for Akron, with the Zips holding the Pioneers (4-9) to 15-of-53 (28.3-percent) shooting and forcing 14 turnovers. The visitors could not find room to shoot or operate from the outset, making just 3-of-18 shots in the game's first 15 minutes and converting just four shots from the field in the opening half en route to 16-percent shooting and a 33-13 Akron lead.

Conversely, Akron turned the ball over just once in the first half and grabbed eight offensive rebounds during that span, leading to nine more shot attempts than the visitors in the opening half. The trend continued into the second half and for the game, the Zips snared an impressive 20-3 edge in offensive rebounds.

It truly was a team effort on the glass for Akron as six players grabbed four or more rebounds, with junior forward Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) snagging a team-high six caroms, including four on the offensive end.

After a slow start shooting the ball, Akron settled in during the early moments of the second quarter and went on an 11-0 run that began at the 7:39 mark of the period and covered a 2:31 span that saw its lead grow to 29-8. After that, the margin never sunk below double digits the rest of the way.

Despite not shooting the ball well from the floor, Akron found a way to score by making 16 free throws and extending possessions with offensive rebounds.

Neither side was able to hit consistently from beyond the arc prior to intermission, with the combined 1-for-23 shooting (4.3 percent) marksmanship seeing both good defense and unkind bounces on the rim for the two teams. For the game, the teams were 4-of-42 on 3-pointers, but

Akron returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 5, against Central Michigan in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams. The Chippewas reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament last season. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. and the radio broadcast will be streamed on www.GoZips.com.