Comeback Falls Short as Western Michigan Edges Akron, 74-66

Wednesday, February 10

Kalamazoo, Mich.

1:00 PM

University of Akron

5-11,2-11MAC

Western Michigan

3-12,2-11MAC

Akron

Western Mich.

Comeback Falls Short as Western Michigan Edges Akron, 74-66

February 10 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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BOXSCORE

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The University of Akron women's basketball team was unable to complete its second-half comeback attempt as Western Michigan (3-12, 2-11 MAC) earned a 74-66 triumph past the Zips (5-11, 2-11 MAC) on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

"I was really disappointed in how we didn't value the basketball today," Akron head coach Melissa Jackson commented. "Twenty-five turnovers is not Akron Basketball. Those empty possessions were the difference in the game. Taylor Williams was outstanding for Western Michigan, she is a really nice player, who hurt us both in the post and on the glass. A positive from the game was the play of Layne (Ferrell). I thought she provided some great energy on both ends of the floor."

The Broncos garnered the victory in large part on the strength of a dominating 30-point, 21-rebound effort from Taylor Williams.

Senior F Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.) led the offensive efforts for the Zips registering a team-high 20-point performance. Sophomore F Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) added 19 points, while redshirt freshman G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) led Akron to a 23-5 advantage in bench scoring pouring in career-high marks in scoring (10) and rebounding (6).

Each side finished the affair shooting just under 44 percent from the field, with the Zips connecting on 43.9 percent of their attempts, including eight three pointers, while the Broncos dialed it in at a .438 clip.

A deciding factor in the contest was turnovers as Akron and Western Michigan combined to commit 45 miscues which the Broncos converted into a 27-21 scoring advantage. Western Michigan registered a 38-36 advantage in rebounds, which it parlayed into a 42-32 margin in scoring in the paint, while also holding a 22-11 edge in second-chance points.

The Zips opened the game making five of their first seven shots from the field to jump out to an 11-4 lead after Dawson buried a three pointer at the 6:11 mark.

Western Michigan answered with an 11-0 run of their own over the next 2:09 to assume a 15-11 advantage. Another three pointer from Dawson and a lay-up by Brewer cut the deficit to four, 20-16, after the opening stanza.

Sparked by triples from Ferrell, sophomore G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Brewer, the Zips opened the second quarter on a 13-4 run to regain the lead, 29-24, following a three pointer from Brewer with 7:16 remaining before halftime.

The Broncos responded with a scoring run of their own, nine unanswered tallies, to retake the lead, 35-29, at the 5:17 mark.

The two teams battled back-and-forth to close the quarter before Akron entered the halftime break trailing Western Michigan, 41-37.

The Broncos scored the first five points of the second half before a lay-up by Brewer at the 6:58 marked moved the Zips within six, 48-42. Western Michigan responded with an 8-0 run to extend its margin to 14, 56-42, before the Zips closed the stanza on a 10-2 run fueled by five points from Dawson and a triple courtesy of Martindale.

The teams seemingly exchanged baskets over the game's final 10 minutes before Western Michigan escaped with a 74-66 victory.

The Zips are scheduled to host Toledo on Saturday, Feb. 13, in the Akron for Nakon game. The contest raises funds for the Nakon Foundation to support those suffering from breast cancer, honor the survivors of all cancers, and educate the community. The 2 p.m. contest will be broadcast on the Akron Radio Network 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.