Akron's Second-Half Rally Falls Short, 72-60, Against Eastern Michigan

Wednesday, January 16

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

11-4, 2-2MAC

Eastern Michigan

9-6, 2-2MAC

Eastern Michigan

Akron

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron's Second-Half Rally Falls Short, 72-60, Against Eastern Michigan

January 16 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Follow Coach Jackson on Twitter
Purchase 2018-19 Akron Women's Basketball Season Tickets

Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Video Highlights | Photo Gallery

AKRON, Ohio– The Akron women's basketball team fell short in their efforts to stage a second-half rally and dropped a 72-60 decision to visiting Eastern Michigan in Mid-American Conference action Wednesday evening at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Akron mounted a furious fourth-quarter rally, riding three straight 3-pointers from redshirt senior guard Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) in a 33-second span to bring the game back to 64-56, but the Eagles were able to hold on for the win down the stretch.

Sefcik led the Zips in scoring for the 12^thtime this season with 20 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists. Junior Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa) notched her fifth double-digit scoring performance in a row and sixth of the season as the guard had 14 points while junior forward Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) added another strong game to her ledger, notching her first double-double of the season and the fifth of her career by tallying 10 points along with a season-high and career-tying 14 rebounds.

Sefcik also made an impact defensively, making three steals, deflecting numerous passes and sprinting back to stop potential Eastern Michigan fast breaks.

It was a game that saw Akron playing on its home court for just the third time in the past month and come out of the starting gate with plenty of energy.

After the Zips (11-4, 2-2 MAC) got off to a solid start leading 12-6 in the opening minutes of the game after 3-pointers by Edmonds and Sefick, Eastern Michigan went on a 21-3 run spanning the first and second quarters as the Akron offense went cold.

The duo of sophomore guard Courtnie Lewis and freshman guard Jenna Annecchiarico fueled the Eagles (9-6, 2-2 MAC) during the run and throughout the opening half, scoring 10 points each before intermission and making 7 of 12 combined shots from the field.

Akron kept itself within shouting distance by making 8-of-9 free throws in the first half and turning the ball over just six times. Sefcik did her best to ignite the offense, tallying 11 points and making a pair of 3-pointers to go with three rebounds and two assists prior to the half.

A strong start to the second half saw the Zips inch within nine, 43-34, but the visitors responded with a 10-0 run to regain control of the contest.

Eastern Michigan built a double-digit lead late in the first half with strong interior play, but the Zips whittled the deficit down to single digits in the third quarter before the Eagles closed the game out the rest of the way.

The Zips take to the road for their next game in a tilt against MAC West Division foe Northern Illinois on Jan. 19. Tip-off between Akron and the Huskies is scheduled for 2 p.m. (1 p.m. CT).