Central Michigan Shoots Past Akron, 92-69

Saturday, January 23

Akron, Ohio

2:00 PM

University of Akron

4-7,1-7MAC

Central Michigan

8-5,6-3MAC

Central Mich.

Akron

January 23 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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BOXSCORE | POST-GAME COMMENTS

AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron women's basketball ran into a hot-shooting Central Michigan (8-5, 6-3 MAC) squad in Mid-American Conference action on Saturday, Jan. 23, as the Chippewas registered a 92-69 triumph past the Zips (4-7, 1-7 MAC) at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Akron finished the contest shooting more than 45 percent (.452) from the field, including making nine three pointers, but Central Michigan's accuracy was even better shooting 52.2 percent on the afternoon, while connecting on 10 triples.

Junior G Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) and sophomore G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) netted a team-high 12 points apiece for the Zips, while sophomore F Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) rounded out a trio of Akron players scoring in double-figures with a 10-point effort.

Molly Davis poured in a game-high 32 points for the Chippewas, including dialing long distance on six three pointers. Micaela Kelly added 17 points, while Anika Weekes recorded a double-double with an 11-point and 10-rebound performance.

Sparked by 12 points from Martindale, nine from redshirt freshman G Emma Tecca (Tallmadge, Ohio), and a career-high six points from freshman G Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario), the Zips' bench outscored the Chippewas' reserves, 30-19.

Central Michigan garnered the edge in rebounding, 42-26, including an 11-3 margin on the offensive glass. The Chippewas parlayed the advantage into a 15-3 margin in second-chance points and 48-34 difference in points in the paint.

Central Michigan ultimately decided the outcome of the affair from the start jumping out to a 9-0 lead en route to leading by as many as 21 points in the opening quarter. The Chippewas shot 65 percent from the field in the initial 10 minutes, including making five three pointers to lead 32-12. Conversely, Akron made just under 38 percent (.375) of its opening-quarter attempts and didn't hit a three pointer.

Down, but not out, the Zips flipped the script in the second quarter connecting on 60 percent of their attempts in the period, while limiting Central Michigan to a 31.6 percent shooting effort in the second stanza.

Trailing 39-14 at the 7:42 mark before the intermission, the Zips began a 15-4 run over a five-minute stretch with the first of three triples on the afternoon from Tecca. The run also featured four points from senior F Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.) and a pair of three pointers courtesy of Martindale.

Akron enter halftime trailing the Chippewas, 46-33, having shot more than 48 percent (.484) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes of play.

The Zips cut the deficit to 10, 53-43, on a three pointer from junior G Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (Solon, Ohio) at the 5:22 mark of the third quarter.

Central Michigan thwarted the rally outscoring Akron, 15-3, to close the period and assume a 68-46 lead after three periods of play.

Playing with a younger line-up in the fourth quarter, the Zips found some offensive rhythm firing at a 53.3-percent clip, including making a trio of three pointers. Unfortunately, the Chippewas shot even better making 69.2 percent of their attempts over the final 10 minutes of play to secure the victory.

Akron is scheduled to host Northern Illinois on Wednesday, Jan. 27 for a 12 p.m. tilt at James A. Rhodes Arena. The contest will be broadcast on the Akron Radio Network 99.7 Canton's New Country with Bill Morgan calling the action.