The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
12-6, 3-4MAC
Toledo
12-6, 4-3MAC
Akron Completes Second Half Comeback In OT Thriller To Defeat Toledo, 70-64
January 26 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio – Thanks to an impressive second-half comeback and an exceptional effort in overtime, the Akron women's basketball team scored 49 second half/OT points en route to a 70-64 overtime decision over the Toledo Rockets Saturday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Zips overcame a 12 point deficit, which is the largest come-from-behind win of the season for Akron. In the overtime period alone, Akron scored 17 points in just five minutes which almost equaled the teams point total in the first half.Â
Redshirt senior guard Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) led the Zips with a season-high 29 points, including 25 in the second half alone. Additionally, Sefcik drained six three-point attempts, her second game of six or more made triples on the season. Junior forward Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) had her second double-double of the season and sixth of her career, scoring 11 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. Junior forward Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) rounded out the double-figure scoring for the hosts with 11 points to go along with six rebounds, including two key offensive rebounds down the stretch.Â
The Akron offense outrebounded Toledo, 35-to-34 at the end of the contest, despite trailing on the glass, 23-to-14, in the first half. Junior guards Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio) and Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) combined to dish out 13 of the Zips 18 assists, which occurred on 81-percent of the Zips made field goals.Â
It was a challenging day at times offensively for the Zips (12-6, 3-4 Mid-American Conference), who started off strong but ran into stiff resistance from the second-ranked scoring defense in the MAC. However, at the end of the 45-minute contest, Akron turned in a 42.3 (22-for-52) field goal percentage, a high 47.6-percent (10-for-21) clip from long range, and an efficient 72.7-percent (16-for-22) from the charity stripe.Â
In return, Akron played stout defense of its own, holding Toledo below its season average field goal percentage (.433) to 41-percent shooting and just three makes from beyond the arc while forcing 19 turnovers from the Rockets.Â
Those defensive stops came in handy as the Zips made five straight shots in the third quarter to climb back into the game after Toledo boosted its lead to 12 points (33-21) early in the second half. The Zips kept within striking distance and after a three-pointer from the left wing by Reinoehl, closed to within two, 39-37, late in the period.Â
The comeback continued when Sefcik buried back-to-back triples in the opening moments of the fourth quarter to stake Akron its first lead (45-43) since the 4:57 mark of the second quarter. The second triple promoted Toledo to call a timeout in an effort to stem the tide, but a putback by Reinoehl following a missed shot kept the Akron push going with the 8-0 run in a two-minute span energizing the Zips.
Momentum shifted back and forth throughout the game, as three early three-pointers, two by Harmon and one by Sefcik, got the Akron offense on track early against the MAC West-leading Rockets. The Zips hit five of their first eight shots from the field, including three of their first four three-point attempts.
The Rockets (12-6, 4-3 MAC) were able to keep pace in the opening quarter by scoring eight points off Akron turnovers and also had three offensive rebounds to extend possessions. However, the Zips were able to edge ahead for an 18-16 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes.
Akron found itself on the end of a 23-14 rebounding deficit in the first half but was able to counter by being more effective on the perimeter. Their 4-1 edge on 3-pointers made, coupled an advantage at the foul line, kept the Zips in the game despite a scoring drought of more than 10 minutes spanning much of the second quarter and into the third quarter.
The Zips have a week off before returning to action on Saturday, Feb. 2, against arch-rival Kent State on the road. Tip-off for part one of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Wagon Wheel Challenge is slated for 2 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio.
