Clay Scores Career-High 25 points, But Akron Falls To MAC Leader Ohio, 92-70

Wednesday, February 6

Athens, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

Ohio

Akron

Ohio

Photo by: David Dermer

Clay Scores Career-High 25 points, But Akron Falls To MAC Leader Ohio, 92-70

February 06 | Women's Basketball

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ATHENS, Ohio– Going up against the top team in the Mid-American conference, the Ohio Bobcats, junior Alyssa Clay (Indianapolis, Ind.) poured in a career-high 25 points, shot 5-of-6 from long range and the Zips connected on 11 team triples, however, the Bobcats took down the Akron women's basketball team, 92-70, in the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio.

The Zips now stand 12-8 overall and 3-6 inside Mid-American Conference play, while Ohio now owns a 19-2 overall ledger and league-best 8-2 conference record.

Offense was flowing inside the Convo as Akron shot 46.4-percent (25-for-56) from the floor and 52.4-percent (11-for-21) from long range, a season-high from distance for the Zips. Despite shooting at a lower clip from the floor (45.6-percent) than UA, Ohio outshot the Zips in made field goals, 31-to-26, en route to the win.

It was a night to remember for Zips sharpshooter, Clay, as she scored a career-high 25 points in the contest to lead the Zips, eclipsing her previous career-high of 22 points. Clay shot 9-for-14 from the floor, 5-for-6 from beyond the arc, and 2-for-4 from the free throw line. Redshirt senior Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) chipped in 17 points with three triples and a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. Junior point guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) rounded out the three Zips in double digits as she added 11 points, a game-high eight dimes, and four rebounds.

Ohio raced out to a 28-13 lead after the first quarter of play behind 10-of-21 (47.6-percent) shooting from the floor, including 5-for-9 from long range.

Early offense by both teams handed the Bobcats a 19-9 advantage with 4:43 left to play in the quarter. Despite Akron shooting 50-percent (4-for-8) from the floor in that time, Ohio went 7-for-11 with four triples.

After the media timeout, the Zips offense cooled off and went five and a half minutes without scoring while the Bobcats capitalized scoring 17 unanswered points. However, in the final 1:30 of the quarter, UA scored four straight points and held Ohio 0-for-4 to bring its deficit to back within 15 points.

Offense was more difficult to come by for each team as the second quarter tipped off. In the first five minutes, Akron shot 28.6-percent and Ohio just 27.5-percent from the floor as the Bobcats claimed a 9-7 edge in the first half of the stanza.

In that time span, it was the Sefcik and Edmonds shows as the dynamic duo scored 13 of Akron's 20 points to that point of the contest.

As Ohio continued to struggle from the floor, Akron fought its way back into the contest using an 11-2 run to make it an 11-point game, 39-28. In that run, Edmonds, Clay, and Reinoehl each knocked down a three-pointer while Sefcik scored a fast break lay-up.

Just as Akron gained momentum and seemed to be taking control of the game, Ohio bounced back to close out the first half on an 8-3 run to extend its lead back to +16 (47-31) heading into the intermission.

The Zips had a chance to again inch its way back into the contest when Ohio began the third quarter shooting just 2-for-10 from the floor. In that time, Akron shot 4-for-6 and outscored the Bobcats, 8-4, to once again trail by just 11 points (51-40) with 7:06 left to play.

Ohio quickly bounced back and again found themselves in a 22-point hole (62-40) courtesy of a 10-0 Bobcat run.

There was no quit in the Zips despite the score and again, worked its way back into the game outscoring the Bobcats, 14-5, in the final 3:30 of the period. Nine of the Zips 14 points in that run came from the hot hand of Clay.

In the first two minutes of the final period of play, neither the Zips or the Bobcats could find the bottom of the net. The two teams combined shot 0-for-6 before Clay knocked down her fourth three-pointer of the game to cut the deficit to 10 points (59-69).

However, that would be the closest Akron would get the rest of the way as Ohio took control of the contest down the stretch to seal the win.

Akron returns to James A. Rhodes Arena for game one of a three-game homestand on Saturday, Feb. 9. The Zips host Western Michigan in a rematch with the Broncos at 5 p.m. The Zips will also welcome back its esteemed alumnae for its annual Alumnae game.