Miami Takes Season Series, Defeats Akron 77-50

Wednesday, February 21

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

8-18, 2-13MAC

Miami University (OH)

17-9, 9-6MAC

Miami

Akron

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

February 21 | Women's Basketball

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AKRON, Ohio -- Despite a big night from freshman guard Destiny Perkins (Indianapolis, Ind.), the Akron Zips dropped a 77-50 decision to the visiting Miami RedHawks Wednesday night in a Mid-American Conference contest at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Perkins led Akron with 15 points and added three rebounds, three assists, and one steal to pace the Zips on offense. It was the eighth time in the past 12 games the freshman has scored in double figures, while Perkins also made her first career start.

Kayla Brown led Miami with 14 points, while junior forward Kendall McCoy added 13 and sophomore guard Lauren Dickerson chipped in with 12 as the RedHawks had six players score in double figures.

Akron couldn't get on track offensively against the fourth-ranked scoring defense in the MAC. On the night, the Zips made just 32.3 percent of its field goal attempts, including 6-of-24 (25-percent) from 3-point range.

Perkins did her best to jump-start the Akron attack, making her first four shots, including a pair of triples, but it wasn't enough to keep pace with Miami.

The Zips (8-18, 2-13 MAC) got off to a slow start offensively, scoring just 11 points in the first quarter. Turnovers slowed what could have been a strong opening period for Akron, as six giveaways resulted in the hosts taking just 11 field goal attempts, making five, as the RedHawks (17-9, 9-6 MAC) staked themselves to a 19-11 lead.

The offensive woes continued in the second frame as four more turnovers and 3-of-11 shooting (27.3 percent) limited Akron to nine points in the period. Miami used the scoring lull to extend its lead to 34-20 at intermission behind eight points from Brown.

In the second half, Akron's offensive production went up, but the Zips defensive effort went down. Akron scored a combined 30 points in the second half after just 20 in the opening two quarters, while Miami shot 58.3 percent (14-of-24) in the second half en route to blowing the game open with 43 second-half points.

Perkins scored 10 of her team-high 15 points in the second quarter. Redshirt junior Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) made her return to the hardwood against the RedHawks after missing 11 games and buried a pair of triples to total six points and an assist.

Akron will play two of its final three games on the road before returning to James A. Rhodes Arena for its home finale and senior day against Ohio on March 3. The Zips are back in action Saturday at 2 p.m. as they make the short drive east on I-76 to take on arch-rival Kent State in part two of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge.