Ball State Edges Akron, 67-60

Sunday, December 20

Akron, Ohio

2:00 PM

University of Akron

3-2,0-2MAC

Ball State

3-3,1-1MAC

Ball St.

Akron

December 20 | Women's Basketball

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AKRON, Ohio - University of Akron women's basketball senior F Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.) led four Zips scoring in double figures with a 15-point, eight-rebound and six-assist performance, but the effort was not enough, as Ball State (3-3, 1-1 MAC) registered a 67-60 triumph past Akron in Mid-American Conference action on Sunday, Dec. 20, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Dawson paced the Zips (3-2, 0-2 MAC) with 15 points, while redshirt freshman G Emma Tecca (Tallmadge, Ohio) added a career-high 12 point on 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Sophomore F Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) and junior G Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (Solon, Ohio) rounded out Akron's double-figure scoring efforts with 10 points apiece.

Sydney Freeman sparked a trio of Cardinals scoring in double figures with a game-high 19-point game, while Oshlynn Brown and Essence Booker contributed 15 and 14 points, respectively.

The Zips finished the afternoon connecting on 38.5 percent of their shots, including making nine three-pointers, while Ball State rounded out the game shooting 39.7 percent from the floor.

A key deciding factor in the contest was rebounds as the Cardinals garnered a 45-34 overall edge, including a 9-4 margin on the offensive glass, which Ball State converted into a 12-4 edge in second-chance points.

The Cardinals sealed the tilt away at the free-throw line where Ball State was 14-of-22, while Akron went to the charity stripe only twice on the afternoon.

The game saw a frenetic finish as Akron rallied from a nine-point third-quarter deficit to close to within one, 57-56, on a lay-up by Brewer with 8:07 left in the contest.

The Cardinals responding with a 9-2 run over the next 4:33 to assume a 66-58 lead with 3:34 remaining.

The Zips had scoring opportunities down the stretch, but were unable to capitalize, as Akron was held without a point for 4:38 en route to Ball State earning a 67-60 final score.

The first half saw the two teams trade runs and leads as each sought its first MAC win of the season. With seven ties and five lead changes in the first 20 minutes, defense often swung the momentum as the Zips and Cardinals found themselves even or nearly even in a myriad of statistical categories as they entered halftime with Ball State leading Akron, 35-32.

Akron benefited from the boost provided off the bench by Tecca and fellow reserve sophomore G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.), who each drained a key three-pointers during the second stanza.

The duo helped pace the Akron attack to five triples before intermission.

Ball State attempted to turn the tide in its favor with full-court pressure, but the Zips were able to withstand the pressure, tying the contest on a jumper from junior G Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) with 43 seconds left in the second quarter.

Akron's next scheduled contest is slated for Saturday, Jan. 2 as the Zips face a road test at Toledo. The 2 p.m. contest against the Rockets can be heard on 640 WHLO-AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.