Ohio Powers Past Akron

Saturday, January 30

Athens, Ohio

1:00 PM

University of Akron

4-9,1-9MAC

Ohio

9-5,7-4MAC

Akron

Ohio

January 30 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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BOXSCORE

ATHENS, Ohio - The University of Akron women's basketball team was unable to overcome a talented Ohio squad in the second half as the Bobcats (9-5, 7-4 MAC) pulled away for an 85-55 Mid-American Conference triumph on Saturday, Jan 30, inside the Convocation Center.

"I have to give Ohio a lot of credit, they played well, especially to start the game," Akron head coach Melissa Jackson commented. "Hooks (Cece) and Johnson (Erica) are two of the best players in our league and I think one of the best backcourts in the country. I was really happy with the effort we played with in the second quarter. I though our zone at times was good and we forced 20 turnovers, so that is something to build on. I also thought JD (Jordyn Dawson) played well and with good pace this afternoon."

The Zips (4-9, 1-9 MAC) shot just 20 percent from the field in the second half and that proved to be the deciding factor in the outcome as Ohio connected at a 40-percent clip to extend an 11-point halftime edge into a league victory.

Senior F Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.) led Akron with a team-high 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, while sophomore G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and junior F Colleen Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) added 11 and 10 points, respectively, in reserve duty.

Cece Hooks directed the Bobcats' offensive attack with a game-high 31 points to highlight three Ohio players finishing in double figures. Gabby Burris and Erica Johnson added 16 and 12 points, respectively, for the Bobcats.

The Zips concluded the contest shooting 33.3 percent from the field, including connecting on six three pointers, while Ohio made 47.3 percent of its shots, with 12 triples hitting their mark.

Led by the scoring efforts of Martindale and Colleen Neitzel, the Zips garnered a 30-18 advantage in bench scoring. Additionally, Akron forced 20 turnovers and converted the miscues into 14 points.

After seeing Ohio race out to a 30-12 start to begin the game, Akron chipped away at the Bobcats' lead with an 8-4 run to close the quarter, to trail, 34-20, after the opening stanza. Fueling the run were three pointers from Martindale and Colleen Neitzel and a pair of free throws from Dawson.

Ohio scored the opening basket of the second quarter before the Zips used another 7-0 run sparked by a pair of buckets from Dawson and a triple from Martindale to move to within nine, 36-27, at the 7:11 mark. Akron was unable to get any closer to close the half trailing the Bobcats at halftime, 46-35.

Both sides struggled offensively to start the third quarter as the teams shot a combined 2-of-17 over the first five minutes of the period, including the Zips missing their first eight attempts, before redshirt freshman G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) connected on a lay-up at the 3:11 mark.

The Bobcats extended their lead in the fourth quarter to as many as 36 points en route to securing the victory.

Akron is scheduled to host Buffalo for a 7 p.m. tilt on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at James A. Rhodes Arena. The contest will be broadcast on the Akron Radio Network 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.