Northern Illinois Pulls Away With Contest Late As Akron Drops A 70-65 Decision

Saturday, January 18

Akron, OH

4:30 PM

University of Akron

8-8,1-4MAC

Northern Illinois

5-11,1-4MAC

Northern Ill.

Akron

Northern Illinois Pulls Away With Contest Late As Akron Drops A 70-65 Decision

January 18 | Women's Basketball

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AKRON, Ohio– The Akron women's basketball team returned home for the first time in two games, but could not overcome a game of runs as the Northern Illinois Huskies edged the Zips, 70-65, down the stretch of the fourth quarter on Saturday afternoon inside James A. Rhodes Arena.

Senior forward Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) led Akron with 19 points and nine rebounds, also a game-high. Reinoehl has now scored in double figures in three straight contests.. Senior guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) tallied 12 points and five rebounds, which now puts her just eight points shy of 1,000 career points. Sophomore guard Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) emerged as the third Zip in double figures scoring a career-high 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

The contest was close throughout as neither team could find a consistent flow offensively. Combined, the Zips (8-8, 1-4 MAC) and Huskies (5-11, 1-4 MAC) shot just 27.5 percent (11-of-40) from 3-point range.

Akron made its mark in transition, where it outscored Northern Illinois 16-4 on fast break points. The two teams played to a near-draw in most statistical categories, finishing tied or nearly tied in rebounds (38-38), turnovers (14 UA-15 NIU), second-chance points (9 NIU-8 UA), points in the paint (34-34) and assists (11 UA-10 NIU).

The difference-maker down the stretch was the defense for the Huskies, as Akron scored just three points in the game's final three minutes as the visitors erased a late two-point lead by the Zips.

It was a contest where momentum swung back and forth as neither team could manage a double-digit lead at any point. Each time one side seemed poised to pull away, the other would get a defensive stop and use that momentum to propel them offensively.

The game began to turn in Akron's favor at the outset of the second quarter when Miller reeled off seven consecutive Akron points as part of an 11-2 run that saw the Zips claim their first lead of the day and end the spurt ahead 25-19.
Reinoehl helped capped the run with consecutive buckets and improved Akron defense held the Huskies to 12 points in the second period. That improved defense allowed the Zips to head into intermission down just two, 29-27, despite shooting just 2 of 14 from beyond the arc prior to the break.

Miller's efforts were part of an 11-3 bench scoring edge for the Zips in the half. Her 11 points were a season-high for the sophomore, whose previous best was nine points this season.

It was another close defeat for the Zips, whose conference losses this season have all come by five points or fewer.

Akron concludes a quick two-game homestand with a Jan. 22 game against the Miami RedHawks, with tip-off slated for 7 p.m. The contest can be seen on ESPN+ as the Zips look to bounce back against a MAC East rival and secure their second conference win of the season.