Hot Shooting Lifts Central Michigan Past Akron

Wednesday, January 6

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

2:00 PM

University of Akron

3-4,0-4MAC

Central Michigan

6-2,4-0MAC

Akron

Central Mich.

January 06 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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BOXSCORE

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The University of Akron women's basketball team was unable to overcome a second-half comeback, as Central Michigan (6-2, 4-0 MAC), the defending Mid-American Conference champions, rallied to post an 83-58 triumph over the Zips (3-4, 0-4 MAC) on Wednesday, Jan. 6.

"Central Michigan did exactly what championship teams do, they came out in the second half and capitalized on our mistakes," Akron head coach Melissa Jackson commented. "As a team, we have to be mentally tough to not allow those mistakes to snowball. We have shown in spurts what this team is capable of. We played a good first half and did some really good things. We have to continue to trust the process and really focus on having the right mindset when things get tough."

Senior F Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.), who surpassed the 500-point plateau for her Akron career with a first-quarter jumper, directed the Zips' attack with a team-high 16 points, while redshirt freshman G Emma Tecca (Tallmadge, Ohio) added 11 points off the bench, including connecting on a trio of three pointers.

Michaela Kelly highlighted four Chippewas registering double-figure scoring performances with a game-high 22-point effort. Joining Kelly in double-figures with 15, 13 and 11 points, respectively, was Kyra Bussell, Molly Davis and Maddy Watters.

Akron finished the afternoon shooting 39.3 percent from the floor, while Central Michigan connected on 46.9 percent of its attempts on the day.

The Chippewas outrebounded the Zips, 40-26, including a 10-4 edge on the offensive glass. Sparked by 11 points from Tecca and six courtesy of freshman Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario), Akron's bench outscored Central Michigan, 24-15.

Central Michigan was able to pull away in the second half capitalizing on a 54.3 percent shooting mark over the final 20 minutes, while converting Akron's turnovers into 21 points on the day.

The two sides battled through a back-and-forth first half, one that featured four ties and nine lead changes, as the Zips took a 33-32 advantage into the halftime intermission.

Dawson led Akron with 12 first-half points, while sophomore F Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) and Tecca added eight and six points, respectively.

The Zips shot 45.2 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, while the Chippewas connected at a 37.9-percent clip.

Akron opened the third quarter extending its lead to four, 36-32, with a three pointer by junior G Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (Solon, Ohio), before Central Michigan squared the contest at 36 at the 8:40 mark.

The Chippewas regained the advantage, 42-38, before a triple by Stewart with 5:56 cut the deficit to one, 42-41.

Central Michigan answered with a 7-0 run over the next 2:13 to assume a 49-41 lead as part of an overall 20-5 scoring surge to close quarter to maintain a 60-46 advantage.

The Chippewas continued their hot shooting over the final 10 minutes, making 10-of-17 shots (.588), en route to remaining unbeaten in league play with 83-58 victory.

Akron's next scheduled contest is slated for Saturday, Jan. 9 as the Zips return to James A. Rhodes Arena to host Miami University. The 2 p.m. contest against the RedHawks can be heard on 640 WHLO-AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.