Akron Women's Basketball Win Streak Ends At Three As Zips Fall To Kent State, 68-50

Wednesday, February 26

Kent, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

13-13, 6-9MAC

Kent State

16-10, 9-6MAC

Akron

Kent State

Akron Women's Basketball Win Streak Ends At Three As Zips Fall To Kent State, 68-50

February 26 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Video Highlights

KENT, Ohio – The Akron women's basketball team cut a 14-point deficit down to seven heading into the fourth quarter, but the Zips success halted in the fourth quarter as Kent State pulled away with the contest in the final 10 minutes of play to defeat UA, 68-50, on Wednesday night at the M.A.C. Center.

After outscoring Kent State 20-17 in the third quarter, which marked the Zips best period of the game, Akron managed just four points in the fourth quarter that allowed the Golden Flashes to secure the win.

The Zips shot 30.2-percent (16-for-53) from the field in the match-up while shooting 31.3-percent from beyond the perimeter. From the free throw line, Akron was able to connected on 13 of its 20 free throw attempts.

Junior Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W. Va.) continues to be a big factor in the Akron offense as the Zips forward tallied team-highs in points (17), rebounds (7), and steals (2). Off the bench for Akron, sophomores Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) and Colleen Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) made an impact for the Zips. Miller scored eight points and recorded an assist while Neitzel added seven points, one rebound, and one steal. Senior Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) rounded out the top scoring Zips with seven points.

In classic rivalry fashion, the Zips and Golden Flashes went back-and-forth on the offensive side of the ball in the first 10 minutes of play. For Akron, four Zips contributed to their 18 first quarter including eight points from the bench. Neitzel tallied a team-high six points shooting 2-for-2 from long distance, Dawson scored five and grabbed three rebounds, and Edmonds chipped in three.

Akron raced out to a 9-5 lead at the 6:36 mark of the period after Dawson cashed in from the left three-point wing with the shot clock winding down. Kent State answered the Zips early offense going on an 8-0 run to claim an 11-9 lead.

Neitzel provided a spark for Akron off the bench connecting on back-to-back triples from the top of the arc that earned the Zips a 17-16 lead before Kent State closed out the period with a 5-1 run to take a 21-18 advantage into the second quarter.

The Zips offense could not find a rhythm in the second quarter shooting just 2-for-9 from the floor and connected on four free throws to give UA eight points in the quarter.

Despite the offensive woes and heading into the locker room trailing 36-26, the Zips defense allowed just 15 points in the quarter keeping the game within a manageable 10 point game.

Akron's struggles from the floor continued in the first minute and a half of the third quarter going 0-for-3 while Kent pushed its lead to +14 with a quick 4-0 run forcing Akron to call a timeout.

Following a few adjustments from head coach Melissa Jackson during the Zips timeout, UA shot 6-for-8 in the ensuing four and a half minutes outscoring Kent State, 16-11, trimming Akron's deficit back down to five, 47-42. Five Zips had a hand in scoring including Dawson (5), Miller (4), Reinoehl (3), senior Shaunay Edmonds (2), and senior Alyssa Clay (2).

However, in the final 14 minutes of the game, the Zips shot just 1-for-18 from the floor leading to a Kent State win.

In the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Wagon Wheel Challenge between Akron and Kent State, the Golden Flashes extended its lead to 4.0-2.5 as KSU picked up a whole point in women's basketball.

Akron hits the road for its final away contest of the 2019-20 women's basketball regular-season as the Zips head to Oxford, Ohio, to take on Miami. UA and the RedHawks are scheduled to tip-off inside Millett Hall at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29.