Akron's Lead Slips Away Late In The Fourth Quarter As Zips Fall 56-51 To Western Michigan

Wednesday, January 8

Akron, OH

7 PM

University of Akron

7-6,0-2MAC

Western Michigan

9-4,2-0MAC

Western Mich.

Akron

Akron's Lead Slips Away Late In The Fourth Quarter As Zips Fall 56-51 To Western Michigan

January 08 | Women's Basketball

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AKRON, Ohio– On a night when the cold-shooting on the court mirrored the freezing temperatures outside, the Akron women's basketball team turned in a relentless defensive effort, but it wasn't quite enough as they sustained a 56-51 Mid-American Conference loss at the hands of visiting Western Michigan on Wednesday night at James A. Rhodes Arena

Senior forward Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) shook off foul trouble to power her team's offense scoring 13 points. Vari's efficiency was off the charts, as she needed just 12 shots (6-for-12) to tally her team-best point total. Senior guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) added 11 points two rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a blocked shot.

Senior forward Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) was a powerhouse on the glass grabbing double-digit rebounds for the fifth time this season. Her 11 caroms topped all players, while the Zips captain also turned in eight points and two assists. Junior Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W. Va.) matched Reinoehl's eight points and grabbed four rebounds.

However, it was the Akron defense that kept the Zips (7-6, 0-2 MAC) in the game even as they struggled to get on track offensively following the first quarter. They held the visiting Broncos to 28.3-percent shooting, including a paltry 3-of-22 (13.7 percent) from beyond the arc, and forced 18 Western Michigan turnovers.

Behind solid ball pressure and good help defense, Akron consistently disrupted the Western Michigan offense, deflecting passes and forcing difficult shots. The Zips also didn't allow the Broncos (9-4, 2-0) to jump-start their sputtering offense in transition, holding the visitors to nine fast break points.

That stout defense kept Akron ahead for just over 36 minutes, as the Zips led almost the whole way and kept their lead in the high single digits for much of the contest before the Broncos edged ahead in the closing minutes and held on for the road win.

A scoring drought of 7:11 late in the fourth quarter was the biggest factor in Akron's downfall, as nine straight missed field goal attempts allowed the Broncos to stage their comeback.

Akron didn't cede an inch to the Broncos from the outset, holding the visitors to 28.1-percent shooting in the first half, including 0-for-12 marksmanship from beyond the arc. If not for a 7-1 edge from the foul line prior to intermission, the Zips' 30-25 halftime edge would have been even larger.

It was Vari who powered the Zips heading into the break, notching 11 points on a variety of jumpers and drives to the hoop.

Edmonds was close behind in the scoring column, tallying eight points in the opening half and running the offense well.

With their point guard protecting the ball, the Zips had just six first-half turnovers as a team and maximized their scoring opportunities in a game where the rims were unkind to both sides.

Akron takes to the road for its next two games, both in Northwest Ohio as they take on I-75 rivals Bowling Green and Toledo in consecutive games over the next week. The Zips and the Falcons do battle on Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. and the game can be seen on ESPN3.