Dawson’s Career Day Propels Akron to 89-84 Overtime Win at Ball State

Saturday, February 6

Muncie, Ind.

4:00 PM

University of Akron

5-10,2-10MAC

Ball State

9-6,7-4MAC

OT 1

Akron

Ball St.

Dawson’s Career Day Propels Akron to 89-84 Overtime Win at Ball State

February 06 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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BOXSCORE

MUNCIE, Ind. - University of Akron women's basketball senior F Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.) scored a career-high 34 points, including 10 in overtime, to propel the Zips (5-10, 2-10 MAC) to an 89-84 triumph past Ball State (9-6, 7-4 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 6.

"I'm so proud of our team and staff, we grew a lot as a team this week and it showed in today's game," Akron head coach Melissa Jackson commented. "I thought our group did a phenomenal job of handling some in-game adjustments. I give credit to Coach Day Henderson for a terrific scout. Jordyn (Dawson) was fantastic all game, but especially down the stretch with her clutch free throw shooting. Lo's (Brewer) activity level on defense was key. Rachel's (Martindale) threes were huge and came at crucial points in the game. I'm really proud of them."

Dawson's career day lifted the Zips to their first road win over the Cardinals since Feb. 15, 2014, as she scored a game- and career-high 34 points, while pulling down a team-best 10 rebounds, while dishing out a game-high seven assists. She sealed the victory with her shooting touch at the charity stripe where she was a perfect 11-for-11, including 6-of-6 in overtime.

Dawson led four Akron players garnering double-figure scoring performances, as she was joined by 17-, 12- and 11-point efforts from sophomore G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.), sophomore F Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) and junior F Colleen Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio). Martindale connected on a career-best five three pointers.

Oshlynn Brown crafted a 29-point and 19-rebound performance to headline Ball State's efforts, while Sydney Freeman and Anna Clephane added 17 and 12 points, respectively.

The Zips finished the contest shooting 41.3 percent from the floor, including connecting on nine three pointers, of which five came in the second half and overtime. The Cardinals shot 40 percent from the field on the afternoon.

Both teams pulled down 45 rebounds, with Akron owning edges in points in the paint, 38-26, fast-break points, 19-18, and bench scoring, 30-12.

With the contest tied at 72 after regulation, the Zips assumed the lead for good when Martindale drained a three pointer at the 4:27 mark to give Akron a 75-72 margin.

Ball State cut the deficit to a single point three times, but Dawson responded with a pair of baskets and Neitzel another to extend the Zips' lead back to three on each occasion.

A pair of free throws from Martindale gave Akron an 83-78 edge with 47 seconds left in overtime.

The Cardinals inability to convert at the free throw line coupled with the Zips making all eight of their charity tosses in overtime game Akron the victory.

Ball State challenged the Zips from the start of the tilt as the Cardinals jumped out to a nine-point advantage, 17-8, at the 2:59 mark of the opening quarter.

An 11-4 run, sparked by four points apiece from Dawson and sophomore F Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio), cut the Zips' deficit to two, 21-19, after the first quarter.

Ball State went on to outscore Akron in the second quarter, 24-18, to take a 45-37 lead into the halftime intermission.

Dawson paced the Zips with 14 first-half points, before scoring 10 points in the third quarter to allow Akron to outscore the Cardinals in the period, 21-12, to enter the final stanza leading by one, 58-57, following a jumper by Brewer in the quarter's final minute.

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair, one that featured three ties and four lead changes, and neither team leading by more than three points.

Trailing by three, 70-67, following a pair of Freeman free throws with 2:50 left in regulation, a layup by Brewer and a three pointer by Martindale, gave the Zips a 72-70 edge with 1:07 remaining. The Cardinals scored the equalizer with a second left in regulation to send the game into overtime.

Akron is scheduled to travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., to face Western Michigan in a 1 p.m. matinee affair on Wednesday, Feb. 10. The contest will be broadcast on the Akron Radio Network 99.7 Canton's New Country with Bill Morgan calling the action.