No 12 Akron Battles No. 5 Ohio But Zips MAC Tournament Run Ends In 85-73 Loss

Monday, March 5

Athens, OH

7 p.m.

University of Akron

9-21

Ohio University

16-14

AKR

OHIO

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

No 12 Akron Battles No. 5 Ohio But Zips MAC Tournament Run Ends In 85-73 Loss

March 05 | Women's Basketball

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ATHENS, Ohio – The University of Akron women's basketball team found themselves in an early hole trailing seven at halftime, 34-27, and despite a battle down the stretch by the Zips inching within one point in the third quarter, No. 5 Ohio ended No. 12 Akron's season with an 85-73 win over the Zips in the first round of the 2018 Mid-American Conference Tournament on Monday night at the Convocation Center.

Akron ended the 2017-18 season with a 9-21 record through 30 games while Ohio improved to 16-14 and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the MAC Tournament.

The Zips were led on the offensive end by redshirt junior Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) and sophomore Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.). Sefcik posted 19 points, hit five three-pointers, and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Reinoehl recorded a big game on the glass and pulled down 12 rebounds to go along with 17 points. Senior Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.) added nine points while shooting 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.

As a unit, Akron thrived beyond the three-point arc shooting 47.1-percent (16-of-34) while shooting a combined 22-for-60 (36.7-percent) from the field and 86.7-percent (13-of-15) from the charity stripe. The Zips outrebounded the Bobcats by a tally of 42-to-40 and the Akron bench chipped in 23 points.

After it seemed Ohio would run away with the first quarter and take an expansive lead into the second quarter, the Zips closed out the final 3:15 of the period strong to trim the Bobcats lead to five points, 19-14, after the first 10 minutes of play.

Ohio jumped out to a 17-3 lead in the first 6:30 of the contest taking advantage of 1-for-10 start from a frigid Akron offense, which did not score its first basket until sophomore Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) nailed a three from the corner at the 6:46 mark.

Senior Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.) was the first quarter hero for the Zips as the senior guard went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the closing minutes of the quarter. Hung sparked an 11-2 run with her long-distance heroics that trimmed the Bobcats lead to five points.

After Reinoehl opened the second frame with a three, Ohio rallied off seven straight points in a minute and a half to extend its lead to 26-17.

From that point on, the contest went back-and-forth with the Zips taking a slight 10-8 advantage in the final 6:17 of the first half to trim the lead down to seven, 34-27, heading into the lockerroom.

Akron recorded 10 field goals in the first half, seven of which came from long distance to keep the Zips within striking distance of the Bobcats.

The three-point shooting spectacle continued for the Zips as Akron nailed four triples and went on a 12-6 run to cut the Ohio lead to on, 40-39. Out of the gate, Sefick pulled up behind the arc in the first two Akron possessions and hit nothing but net. Reinoehl followed suit in the fourth possession draining a three at the 7:38 mark before Sefcik again hit from downtown with 7:02 to play in the third quarter to make the contest a one-point game.

Ohio countered the Akron run to increase its lead back to plus-six at the media break, but the pesky Zips weathered the storm and answered by scoring five straight to again bring the contest within one, 47-46.

However, a 9-2 run by the Bobcats in the final 2:24 of the third quarter handed Ohio an eight-point advantage and 56-48 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.

The Bobcats controlled the first five minutes of the fourth quarter extending their lead to plus 10 three times and never let their advantage slip below six points.

Akron gained some offensive momentum tallying a 10-4 offensive spurt allowing the Zips to bring the game within four points (75-71) with 1:52 left to play.

Despite the comeback effort, Ohio would outscore Akron 11-2 in the final 1:39 of the contest and pulled away with the postseason victory.