Akron Women's Basketball Falls At Ball State, 60-52

Saturday, February 8

Muncie, Ind.

1 PM

University of Akron

10-11,3-7MAC

Ball State

15-7,7-3MAC

Akron

Ball St.

Akron Women's Basketball Falls At Ball State, 60-52

February 08 | Women's Basketball

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MUNCIE, Ind. – After an efficient start to the contest that saw the Zips outscore Ball State 22-12, the Cardinals outscored the Akron women's basketball team 48-30 in the ensuing three periods to defeat UA, 60-52, on Saturday afternoon inside Worthen Arena.

The Zips used a balanced scoring attack against the Cardinals as nine UA players tallied at least two points in the scoring column. Senior captain Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) scored a game-high 13 points, hit three triples, and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) matched a career-high 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting to go along with a team-high four assists and three rebounds. Akron's bench contributed 23 points led by Miller and senior guard Alyssa Clay (Indianapolis, Ind.) who pitched in eight points.

While Akron got off to a good start on the offensive end of the floor shooting 52.9-percent (9-17) and 60-percent (3-for-5) from long range, the Zips would go a combined 10-34 in the last 30 minutes of the contest.

Hindering the Zips' success against the Cardinals were 25 costly turnovers and struggles from the free-throw line (41.2-percent). Ball State turned Akron's miscues into 18 points.

Akron cruised to an early +10-advantage at the first quarter break as an all-around performance by the Zips saw seven different players in the scoring column including Reinoehl (8), Miller (4), Clay (3), senior Caitlin Vari (2), freshman Molly Neitzel (2), freshman Lonasia Brewer (2), and senior Shaunay Edmonds (1).

The Zips extended a 7-5 lead at the media break into a 22-12 lead courtesy of a 15-7 overall run that included a 9-1 offensive outburst that saw Reinoehl and Clay knock down a three-pointer and Miller connect on a pair of mid-range jumpers.

Defensively, the Zips shutdown the Cardinals forcing nine turnovers and limited Ball State to a low 36.4-percent from the floor.

Again, Akron started the opening minutes of the second quarter up 7-5 and extended its lead to +12 (29-17) with just under five minutes remaining the first half.

From that point on until the final minute of the first half, UA's offensive flow went stagnate as the Zips shot 0-for-2 and turned the ball over seven times which turned into nine of Ball State's 12 unanswered points.

Out of the halftime break, Akron put the second quarter behind them and looked forward to the third period. In the first six minutes of the stanza, UA went on an 11-4 run again courtesy of long ball as Reinoehl, Clay, and Harmon each connected from deep to hand the Zips a 40-33 lead.

The Zips offensive momentum halted in the final four minutes of the quarter as Akron shot just 1-for-4 that allowed Ball State to flip a seven-point deficit into a tie game at 40.

At the 9:24 mark of the fourth quarter, the Zips led 44-43. It would be the final time Akron would lead in the contest as Ball State outscored UA 20-10 in the final stanza to pull away with the cross-divisional MAC victory.

It's rivalry week part one! On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the Akron women's basketball team hosts its cross-town rival, Kent State, in the first rendition of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge as the Zips and Golden Flashes go head-to-head. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside James A. Rhodes Arena.