Akron Falls at Eastern Michigan

Saturday, January 16

Ypsilanti, Mich.

12:00 PM

University of Akron

4-5,1-5MAC

Eastern Michigan

7-5,4-3MAC

Akron

Eastern Mich.

January 16 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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BOXSCORE

YPSILANTI, Mich. - A season-low shooting afternoon proved too much for the University of Akron women's basketball team to overcome as Eastern Michigan (7-5, 4-3 MAC) posted a 64-46 Mid-American Conference victory over the Zips (4-5, 1-5 MAC) on Saturday, Jan. 16.

"It clearly was not our day from an offensive standpoint," Akron head coach Melissa Jackson commented. "At times, we got good looks that we needed to finish. Other times, we needed to have better offensive flow. Our transition game was non-existent today and that hurt us! I thought for the most part that we defended them well as outside of their 14 offensive rebounds, I was fairly happy with our defensive game plan."

Senior Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.) and sophomore Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) registered team-high marks for the Zips scoring 13 points apiece, while Brewer and junior F Colleen Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) pulled down a team-best six rebounds each.

Ce'Nara Skanes led three Eastern Michigan scoring in double figures with a game-high 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Adding 19 and 14 points, respectively, was Areanna Combs and Jenna Annecchhiarico.

The Eagles garnered a 57-38 edge in rebounding on the afternoon, including a 14-7 advantage on the offensive glass. Eastern Michigan was unable to capitalize netting only nine second-chance points, while committing 17 turnovers.

The game proved to be a series of runs and cold-shooting spells for both sides, especially in the second half, where Akron and Eastern Michigan combined to shoot 18-of-62 from the field for a 29-percent shooting mark, while making just 2-of-14 shots from beyond the arc.

The Zips opened the game scoring the first four points of the contest before the Eagles answered with an 8-0 run of their own to assume an 8-6 lead at the 4:40 mark of the first quarter.

After back-to-back baskets from Dawson gave Akron an 11-8 lead, Eastern Michigan closed the quarter on a 13-4 run to assume a 21-15 advantage after the opening quarter.

The Zips scored the first two baskets of the second quarter on lay-ups from Dawson and Brewer before the Eagles went on a 9-2 run to take a 30-21 lead with 4:38 left before the half.

A lay-up from sophomore G Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) at the 4:11 mark ended the scoring run. Eastern Michigan scored six straight before junior G Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (Solon, Ohio) nailed a three pointer at the 1:23 mark to cut the deficit to 36-26.

The Zips shot 30.6 percent from the field, including a 2-for-13 mark from beyond the arc in the opening half, while the Eagles connected on nearly 39 percent (.389) from the field and led at the intermission, 38-26.

Dawson led the Zips with 11 first-half points. Each team committed nine turnovers in the opening 20 minutes of play, with the Eagles posting a 29-19 edge in first-half rebounds.

Eastern Michigan went cold from the field in third quarter going 5:18 without field goal, including shooting 0-4 in the span. Akron outscored the Eagles, 8-3, during the shooting drought, to cut the deficit to six, 44-38, following a lay-up and made free throw by Brewer at the 2:26 mark. Eastern Michigan responded closing the quarter on an 8-2 run to lead after three periods, 52-40.

The Zips were unable to find any rhythm offensively over the final 10 minutes of play as Akron was just 3-of-17 from the field, including 0-for-6 beyond the arc. The Eagles fared only slightly better going 6-for-18 in the final quarter, but it proved to be enough to secure a 64-46 triumph.

Akron is scheduled to travel to Bowling Green on Wednesday, Jan. 20 for a 7 p.m. tilt at the Stroh Center. The contest will be broadcast on the Akron Radio Network 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.