Dawson’s Career Night Sparks Akron to 84-77 Victory Past Miami

Saturday, January 9

Akron, Ohio

2:00 PM

University of Akron

4-4,1-4MAC

Miami

1-8,0-5MAC

Miami (OH)

Akron

Dawson’s Career Night Sparks Akron to 84-77 Victory Past Miami

January 09 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Follow Akron Women's Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Follow Coach Jackson on Twitter

BOXSCORE | POST-GAME COMMENTS

AKRON, Ohio - A career-high 30 points from senior F Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.), including 16 in the decisive second half, propelled the University of Akron women's basketball team to it first Mid-American Conference victory of the season, an 84-77 triumph over Miami (1-8, 0-5 MAC) on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 9, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Dawson stuffed the stat sheet with 30 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and numerous game-changing plays on the afternoon. She had plenty of help from junior G Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (Solon, Ohio) and junior G Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio), who scored 13 and 10 points, respectively. Adding nine points for Akron was sophomore F Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio).

The Zips (4-4, 1-4 MAC) shot a sparkling 55.2 percent from the field, a season-high mark, and harassed the visiting RedHawks into 21 turnovers en route to the triumph. Akron turned the miscues into 31 points on the afternoon.

Kelly McLaughlin led Miami with 27 points, while Peyton Scott added 22 in the setback.

Play in the paint was dominant for both sides in the affair as each team scored 52 points, while the Zips posted a 16-14 edge in bench points and 19-8 in fast-break opportunities.

Playing at home for the first time in nearly three weeks and for the initial time in 2021, Akron fell behind early, but never panicked, steadily fighting its way back into the game behind Dawson's stellar play and red-hot shooting from the entire roster.

The latter stages of the third quarter proved to be the tipping point in the contest as the Zips closed the stanza on a 7-0 run over the final 1:46 to take a 56-49 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Dawson contributed a lay-up and a steal, junior F Colleen Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) added lay-up, while redshirt freshman G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) scored the final three points of the period to fuel the scoring run.

When Miami staged a fourth-quarter rally, it was again Dawson who delivered the crucial rebuttal, converting an acrobatic lay-up with 4:48 remaining to stake the Zips to a 67-59 advantage. She added four clutch free throws in the final minute to seal the triumph.

With her team trailing by nine points early in the second quarter, Dawson willed the Zips back into the game, banking in a long three-pointer from the top of the key, adding a driving lay-up on Akron's ensuing possession and forcing a Miami turnover at the other end of the court. Her efforts sparked a 7-0 run that narrowed the RedHawks' lead to two, 23-21, in the span of 1:41.

Even after Miami was able to build its lead back to seven, Akron's reserves were able to power the Zips back into the game as freshman G Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario) and Ferrell both tallied baskets in a burst that tied the game at 36-all in the final minute of the first half.

Despite both teams struggling with turnovers in the first two quarters, Akron scorched the nets at a 51.9-percent clip, including 64.3-percent (9-of-14) shooting in the second quarter. Additionally, the Zips forced 11 Miami turnovers before intermission and converted those miscues into 18 points on the offensive end.

Akron is scheduled to host rival Kent State in the first installment of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge on Wednesday, Jan. 13, at James A. Rhodes Arena. The 6 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on the Akron Radio Network 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.