Five Zips Score In Double Figures As Akron Drops Eastern Michigan, 88-81, In Thrilling OT Fashion

Saturday, February 1

Akron, OH

2 PM

University of Akron

10-10,3-6MAC

Eastern Michigan

10-10,5-4MAC

OT 1

Eastern Mich.

Akron

Five Zips Score In Double Figures As Akron Drops Eastern Michigan, 88-81, In Thrilling OT Fashion

February 01 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Video Highlights

AKRON, Ohio– The Akron women's basketball team found themselves in yet another close Mid-American Conference game Saturday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena and this time, they buckled down and claimed an 88-81 overtime win over the visiting Eastern Michigan Eagles.

The Zips dominated the extra period with defense and a pair of three-point bombs by senior guard Alyssa Clay (Indianapolis, Ind.), who notched 17 points in the win and connected on five three-pointers for the second consecutive contest. Her second overtime triple staked Akron to an 86-81 lead, one the home team would not relinquish.

The overtime came on the heels of a crazy ending to regulation as a rebound putback by senior forward Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) with 9.1 seconds left after a chaotic scramble under the basket gave the Zips (10-10, 3-6 MAC) a 76-75.

However, a similar loose ball scramble in the closing seconds of regulation resulted in Eastern Michigan retaining possession, leading to a foul and a pair of free throws for the Eagles. Juanita Agosto missed the first charity toss, but made the second, sending the contest into overtime.

The heart-pounding ending was befitting in a game that was back-and-forth all afternoon long.

A 6-0 run down the stretch turned a two-point deficit into a 74-70 lead as senior forward Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) cashed in a free throw and a layup to give Akron the lead and Reinoehl mirrored that sequence with a free throw followed by a layup of her own to pad the lead to four points.

One of the most balanced scoring attacks of the season for the Zips paced Akron as Reinoehl led Akron with 19 points, Clay added 17, junior Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W. Va.) had 16, Vari chipped in with 13 to go with 11 rebounds (third double-double) and sophomore guard Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) also reached double figures with 10. It was the second time in the 2019-20 campaign the Zips ended the contest with five players scoring in double-digits.

It was Reinoehl's team-best sixth double-double of the campaign and helped Akron crush Eastern Michigan on the glass, 53-40, including a 15-10 advantage on the offensive glass. The trio of Reinoehl (19-15), Vari (13-11), and Dawson (16-10) all recorded a double-double in the same game for the first time this season.

The game was close from the opening tip to the final buzzer as neither side ever gained a double-digit lead, there were 11 ties and 12 lead changes. Fouls played a major part in the outcome, as the Zips and Eagles (10-10, 5-4 MAC) were whistled for a combined 31 infractions. The Zips took advantage when the whistle went in their favor as Akron knocked down 19 of its 22 free throw attempts.

An offensively charged first quarter saw plenty of fast breaks, transition hoops, and drives to the basket by both teams and balance for the Zips.

Four players tallied at least four points in the opening period for Akron, led by six from Clay and the stanza was capped by a buzzer-beating layup by Reinoehl to stake the Zips to a 23-20 lead at the end of the period.

Akron was able to sustain its scoring pace in the second quarter thanks to that same balance, which saw six players score six points or more for the half.

The Zips also controlled the glass, grabbing a 24-17 rebounding edge and limiting Eastern Michigan's second chances on offense as the Eagles didn't record a single second-chance point prior to halftime.

Akron will enjoy a seven-day break from games and return to the court on Feb. 8 in Muncie, Ind., as they take on the Ball State Cardinals at 1 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN+.