Akron Secures First MAC Win In Exciting Fashion Completing 76-73 Come-From-Behind Victory Over Bowling Green

Saturday, January 11

Bowling Green, OH

2 PM

University of Akron

8-6,1-2MAC

Bowling Green

7-8,0-3MAC

Akron

Bowling Green

Akron Secures First MAC Win In Exciting Fashion Completing 76-73 Come-From-Behind Victory Over Bowling Green

January 11 | Women's Basketball

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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – In exciting fashion, the Akron women's basketball team scored 14 unanswered points in the final 2:29 of the fourth quarter and completed a 76-73, come-from-behind victory, over Bowling Green to secure its first Mid-American Conference 'W' on the road inside the Stroh Center on Saturday afternoon.

After a battle against the Falcons for the first 37 minutes of the game that saw six lead changes and four ties, the Zips stared down an 11-point deficit (73-62) with 2:42 left to play. At the 2:29 mark, senior Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) drove the lane, laid the ball into the basket, drew a foul, and knocked down a free throw to complete a three-point play. At the time, it was a big play, but it also marked the beginning of a miraculous and gritty comeback by the Zips.

En route to the victory, Vari completed her second three-point play (68-73, -5), senior Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) knocked down a free throw (69-73, -4), senior Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio) splashed a triple in the corner (72-73, -1), senior Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) picked the pocket of a BG guard and went coast-to-coast with a lay-up for the lead (74-73, +1), and Harmon iced the game with a pair of free throws (76-73, +3).

While the Zips offense took off, Akron's defense locked down the Falcons on the other end of the court. During the Zips scoring outburst, Bowling Green went 0-for-3, turned the ball over twice, and committed three fouls sending UA to the line.

In the fourth quarter alone, Akron outscored BGSU, 27-17, shot a game-high 55.6-percent from the floor, 5-for-6 from the charity stripe, scored 16 points in the paint, 10 points off turnovers, eight second-chance points, and seven fastbreak points.

The Akron starting five of Reinoehl, Harmon, Vari, Edmonds, and junior Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W. Va.) accumulated 71 of the Zips 76 points, including three players who ended the contest in double figures. Reinoehl turned in her best outing this conference season that included her fourth double-double of the season, matched a career-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Harmon finished the contest with season-highs in points (15) and assists (6). Vari was a force to be reckoned with on the glass grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds and six key offensive boards while also scoring 14 points to record her second double-double of the campaign. Edmonds and Dawson tallied a combined 16 points, six assists, and four steals.

For the game, UA went on to shoot 40.6-percent from the floor (28-for-69), 8-for-27 from the floor, and 80-percent from the free-throw line. The Zips edged the Falcons in nearly every statistical category including rebounds (41-to-38), assists (17-to-15), steals (9-to-4), and blocks (4-to-0).

The stout Akron defense limited Bowling Green, the top-scoring team in the MAC and a top-10 three-point shooting team in the country, below its season average in points scored, field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage and three-point field goals made.

Bowling Green opened the contest with a 12-7 advantage at the first quarter media timeout.

Fueled by a trio of three-pointers, the Zips closed out the quarter on a 13-7 run. Akron cut a five-point deficit at the media break (4:39) and turned it into a 20-19 advantage at the conclusion of the period. Reinoehl scored a quick 10 points in the quarter on 4-of-5 shooting, which included two triples.

Two and a half minutes into the second quarter, Akron claimed its largest lead of the contest, 30-22, after a 10-0 run out of the quarter break. The Zips shared the ball as four different Zips accounted for Akron's 10 points and all three of UA's field goals came off an assist.

However, the Falcons bounced back into the contest and the two sides battled to a 38-35 score at the half with Bowling Green out in front.

Bowling Green dominated most of the second half as Akron's offense cooled down out of the halftime break, but the Zips stayed within striking distance that gave them the opportunity for its comeback, which they seized.

With time expiring, the Falcons threw up a pray just over halfcourt and as the ball fell off the mark, the Zips sideline and fans erupted in excitement after earning a well-deserved win.

Akron stays on the road for game number four of the Mid-American Conference schedule. The Zips return to northwest Ohio on Wednesday, Jan. 15, to take on MAC West opponent, Toledo, at 7 p.m. from Savage Arena.