Akron Goes Down To The Wire With Central Michigan Before Falling 77-72

Saturday, January 4

Akron, OH

2 PM

University of Akron

7-5,0-1MAC

Central Michigan

8-4,1-0MAC

Central Mich.

Akron

Akron Goes Down To The Wire With Central Michigan Before Falling 77-72

January 04 | Women's Basketball

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AKRON, Ohio– Despite a career-high 25 points from junior forward Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W. Va.), the Akron women's basketball team dropped a tough 77-72 decision to the visiting Central Michigan Chippewas in the Mid-American Conference season opener on Saturday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Dawson bested her previous career-high of 18 points, set earlier this season against Butler, and also had seven rebounds. Senior forward Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) tallied 12 points and senior guard Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio) chipped in eight points and a team-best four assists for Akron. Senior forward Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) led Akron with a game-best 10 rebounds while adding six points, three assists, and two blocked shots.

It was a game that saw multiple runs by both teams as the two sides swapped leads and momentum in their first league contest of the season.

Central Michigan seized control of the contest early in the second half, staging a 10-2 run over a 2:25 span as four different players scored for the Chippewas (8-4, 1-0 MAC) during the spurt to stake the visitors to their largest lead of the afternoon, 54-44.

Akron battled back behind three-pointers from freshman guard Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and sophomore guard Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (Solon, Ohio), who scored Akron's final five points of the third quarter and narrowed the margin to four (58-54) in the closing seconds of the frame.

Dawson converted an acrobatic, fast-break layup with 4:11 remaining to draw Akron to within one, 67-66, setting up the dramatic finish that saw Central Michigan make just enough plays to emerge with the win.

Playing at home for the first time in the new year and also for the first time in nearly three weeks, the Zips (7-5, 1-0 MAC) started strong, leading by as many as five points in the first half. Dawson powered the Akron attack in the early going, scoring on numerous strong drives to the hoop and also hitting a three-pointer on her way to 15 first-half points, topping all scorers.

Turnovers were an issue for both teams as each side committed eight of them before the break thanks to active hands and aggressive help defense. Akron kept itself in the game by outscoring the Chippewas 12-3 from beyond the arc before intermission, while Central Michigan used a 12-6 free-throw scoring edge to build a 39-36 lead at the break.

The Zips and Chippewas combined for a perfect first half from the foul line, making all 18 charity tosses they attempted in the opening 20 minutes.

Akron remains at home for its next contest as the Western Michigan Broncos make their way to Rhodes Arena for a 7 p.m. contest on Jan. 8. The game can be seen on ESPN+ and wraps up a brief two-game homestand for the Zips.