Late Run Propels Toledo Past Akron, 65-57

Saturday, January 2

Toledo, Ohio

2:00 PM

University of Akron

3-3,0-3MAC

Toledo

6-1,2-1MAC

Akron

Toledo

January 02 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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BOXSCORE

TOLEDO, Ohio - Sparked by a career-high 21 points from sophomore F Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio), the University of Akron women's basketball team gave itself an opportunity to garner a road victory, unfortunately for the Zips (3-3, 0-3 MAC), a 7-0 run over the final 3:34 propelled Toledo (6-1, 2-1 MAC) to a 65-57 triumph in Mid-American Conference action on Saturday, Jan. 2.

"Today was a back-and-forth game, and although I'm disappointed with the final result, I am very proud of our team for how they played for the majority of the game," Akron head coach Melissa Jackson commented. "There was a different energy from our group and a willingness to be more aggressive. Fourteen offensive rebounds were big for us and hopefully something we can build on. This was the first game all year that Jordyn (Dawson) was in foul trouble and really couldn't get into any rhythm offensively."

Brewer posted her first career double-double with a team-best 21-point and 11-rebound performance, while junior G Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) added 10 points.

"I thought Lo (Brewer) played really well today as she took her game to another level," said Jackson. "Both our sophomore forwards, Molly (Neitzel) and her were extremely active and played very well."

The Zips' defensive effort limited Quinesha Lockett, the Rockets' leading scorer at 19.0 points per game, to only three points in the contest. Sophia Wiard directed three double-figure scoring efforts for Toledo with a team-high 16 points. Adding 14 and 12 points, respectively, was Mali Morgan-Elliott and Khera Goss.

In a showdown that featured 13 ties and 16 lead changes, Akron concluded the game connecting on 40 percent of its shots from the field on 22-of-55 shooting, while the Rockets made 22-of-53 attempts for a 41.5 percent shooting mark.

The Zips posted a 36-34 overall rebounding edge, including earning a 14-12 advantage on the offensive glass. The 14 offensive rebounds is a season-best effort. Akron also bettered the Rockets in points in the paint, 30-28, and bench points, 14-12.

Toledo's ability to capitalize on Akron miscues provided the final margin in the affair as the Rockets scored 24 points off of Zips' turnovers, while Akron netted13 points off its own courtesy of 12 Toledo turnovers.

The two sides were tied at 46 entering the final quarter before senior F Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.) gave Akron a 48-46 lead with a lay-up to open the stanza.

Toledo answered with a 5-0 run of its own before a lay-up from junior G Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (Solon, Ohio) and a made free throw by Brewer knotted the score at 51 at the 7:39 mark.

The two sides exchanged the next two baskets before a pair of free throws from Brewer vaulted Akron into a 55-53 lead with 5:24 remaining in regulation.

The Rockets had a scoring answer of their own netting 12 of the final 14 points in the game to secure the league victory.

The Zips led at halftime, 33-32, as Akron connected on 52 percent of their first-half attempts, including going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. The opening 20 minutes of play was highlighted by four ties and nine lead changes.

Akron's next scheduled contest is slated for Wednesday, Jan. 6 as the Zips face a road test at Central Michigan. The 2 p.m. contest against the Chippewas can be heard on 640 WHLO-AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.