Zips Drop 79-67 Decision at NIU

Monday, January 24

DeKalb, Ill.

6:00 PM | 7:00 PM ET

University of Akron

7-6,4-3MAC

Northern Illinois

6-9,3-4MAC

Akron

Northern Ill.

January 24 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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BOXSCORE (PDF)

DeKalb, Ill.- The Akron women's basketball team dropped a 79-67 setback on Monday night to NIU at the NIU Convocation Center.

The Zips had four players score in double-figures with Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W Va.) leading the way with her sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Dawson also added four assists and three steals. Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) scored a season-high 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) and Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) finished with 14 and 11 points.

After Dawson opened the game with a three for Akron (7-6, 4-3 MAC), the Zips blasted off with a 11-2 scoring run and took a 14-6 lead in the first with Brewer accounting for four of the points during the run on back-to-back layups. The Huskies held the Zips scoreless for the final three minutes of the opening quarter and used an 11-2 run that put NIU ahead, 17-16, before Dawson hit a jumper with three seconds remaining that put the Zips back on top, 18-17.

Northern Illinois had a big second quarter that saw its success from its defense and rebounding. The Huskies outrebounded the Zips 17-9 in the second quarter, while outscoring Akron, 24-13. An 11-2 run that lasted over the final four minutes of the game, sent the Huskies into the break with a 41-31 edge over the Zips.

After trailing by 10 at halftime, the Zips used two scoring runs that trimmed NIU's lead to one (53-52). During the run, Akron forced two steals and scored six off the Huskies' miscues. Dawson highlighted the runs by scoring nine points over five minutes. NIU went without a basket for 3:06 before the Huskies hit back-to-back layups that put the visitors up 57-52. With five seconds remaining in the third, Ferrell drained a deep three in front of the Zips' bench that put Akron down by two, 57-55 heading into the final quarter.

A 9-2 run by the Huskies, including seven points in 11 seconds, extended the Huskies lead to 66-57 within the first three minutes of the final quarter. Bass hit a three-pointer and a layup that sparked the Zips' offense and closed NIU's lead to 66-61 with under five to play. NIU would end the fourth quarter on a 11-2 run that put the game out of reach for the Zips, as the Huskies secured the 79-67 victory.

NIU secured 14 offensive rebounds and scored 19 second-chance points, while out rebounding Akron, 44-29.

The Zips return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 26 as Akron hosts Eastern Michigan at James A. Rhodes Arena. Tip time is scheduled for 7 p.m. Fans can follow the game on ESPN3 and hear it on 640 WHLO AM.