Akron Falls 66-62 To Cleveland State Late In The Fourth Quarter

Wednesday, November 27

Cleveland, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

4-2

Cleveland State

5-1

Akron

Cleveland State

Akron Falls 66-62 To Cleveland State Late In The Fourth Quarter

November 27 | Women's Basketball

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CLEVELAND, Ohio – In a game that the Akron women's basketball team led for 33 minutes, the Zips were unable to pull away with the contest down the stretch as a late fourth-quarter run by Cleveland State handed the Vikings a 66-62 win over UA on Wednesday night inside the Wolstein Center in downtown Cleveland.

Heading into the fourth quarter, Akron trailed by seven (51-44) and down to its final 10 minutes of play. The Zips blitzed the Vikings, 9-0, in the first two and half minutes of the fourth period to reclaim its lead, 53-51. In the Zips offensive spurt, junior Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W. Va.) scored five points, senior Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) knocked down a pair of free throws, and senior Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) connected on a jumper.

The Zips defense limited Cleveland State to just three points in the quarter through the first seven and a half minutes, however, in the final 2:32 of the ball game Cleveland State caught fire and went on a 9-2 run which included the go-ahead lay-up (63-62) with 12 ticks left on the clock.

The backcourt duo of Reinoehl and senior Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) put up big numbers down low for the Zips. Reinoehl recorded her third double-double of the season and led the Zips in scoring the fourth time in 2019-20 by way of 16 points and 10 rebounds while adding three assists, two blocks, and one steal. Vari added a season-high 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, including a team-high four offensive boards.

Dawson came alive late in the game scoring seven of her nine points in the fourth quarter, pulled in six rebounds, ripped a game-high four steals, and dished out two assists. Senior Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio) continues to be a workhorse for Akron despite not recroding a feild goal scored eight points (eight made free throws), posted seven rebounds, a team-high four assists, and three steals.

As a unit, Akron shot just 33.3-percent from the floor (22-for-66) in the contest but was efficient at the free-throw line connecting on 16-of-19 attempts. The Zips two best quarters offensively came in the second and fourth periods where UA shot a combined 13-for-30 and tallied 36 of its 62 total points.

In the first 10 minutes of play, the Zips rode the hot hand of Reinoehl en route to a 17-16 lead. The Zips senior forward scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds playing all 10 minutes of the period.

Reinoehl began the game a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor in the first five and half minutes as the Zips raced out to a 13-10 lead.

After going ahead 17-12 with 1:36 left to play in the stanza, Cleveland State scored four straight points to cut its deficit down to 17-16 heading into the second quarter.

The story of the second quarter was turnovers for both Akron and Cleveland State. While the Zips committed four turnovers, the Akron defense limited the Vikings to just four points off those offensive mistakes. On the defensive side of the ball, UA forced four CSU turnovers

Despite the offensive miscues, the Zips outscored Cleveland State 18-13 in the second quarter. Vari played a big role for Akron offensively scoring eight of her 10 first-half points.

As Akron held on to a two-point lead under two minutes to play in the half, UA strung together a strong final 1:37 of the quarter to extend its lead to 35-29 at the intermission.

Three members of the Zips backcourt in Reinoehl, Vari, and freshman Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) accounted for 27 of the Zips 35 first-half points.

Helping the Zips hold onto the early lead was Akron's advantage in rebounds. In the first 20 minutes of play, UA outrebounded CSU, 26-13 (+13). Akron also recorded an assist on eight of its 15 first-half field goals.

Cleveland State took over the game in the third quarter outscoring Akron, 22-9, in the stanza. The Vikings took control of the lead for the first time in the game at the 2:36 mark (43-42). In the final three minutes of the quarter, Cleveland State went on a 12-2 run to grow its lead to +7 (51-44) as the game headed to the fourth quarter.

Despite Akron winning the fourth quarter, 18-15, Cleveland State walked away with the 66-62 win.

Akron returns to the friendly confines of James A. Rhodes Arena as the Zips are set to host their seventh-annual Education Day in conjunction with its contest with Duquesne at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4.