Zips Sweep Wagon Wheel Rivalry, Extend Win Streak to Four

Saturday, February 19

Akron, Ohio

2:00 PM

University of Akron

13-8,10-5MAC

Kent State

16-8,8-7MAC

Kent St.

Akron

Zips Sweep Wagon Wheel Rivalry, Extend Win Streak to Four

February 19 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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BOXSCORE (PDF) | Postgame Press Conference

AKRON, Ohio- The Akron women's basketball team completed the season sweep over rival Kent State on Saturday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena with a 73-64 victory, extending its win streak to four.

It didn't matter what visiting Kent State did Saturday afternoon; Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W Va.) wasn't going to allow the Akron Zips to lose.

In a season abounding with standout performances, the Akron redshirt senior forward painted a masterpiece in driving her squad to a win a Wagon Wheel Challenge battle. Her 30 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocked shots were the centerpiece of a victory that allowed the Zips to sweep the season series with their rivals and reach double digits in Mid-American Conference wins for the campaign.

Smothering defense was another vital cog in the win as Akron limited Kent State to 36.2-percent shooting, forcing 15 turnovers and not allowing a single fast break point. It was a dominant effort with a much different ending than the Zips' one-point win at Kent in early January.

Akron led the entire second half, pulling ahead by as many as 12, and never allowed the visitors to get closer than three points the rest of the way. Dawson had plenty of help from freshman forward Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) (18 points, nine rebounds) and junior guard Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) (eight points, three steals) in the win.

A key corner triple from junior guard Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) with 2:32 remaining helped seal the win for the Zips (13-8, 10-5 MAC) after Kent State narrowed its deficit to six (61-55), boosting the Akron edge back to nine.

Despite battling foul trouble, Dawson continued her dominant campaign for MAC Player of the Year honors, tormenting the Flashes (16-9, 9-8 MAC) on both ends of the court. On offense, she bulled her way to the basket time and time again, converting layups and absorbing contact.

Defensively, she blocked shots, stole the ball repeatedly and recorded numerous deflections. In the opening two quarters, she tallied 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Bass added to Akron's dominance down low, scoring eight points on contested shots from tough angles as the Zips outscored Kent 26-14 on points in the paint for the half.

Sophomore guard Casey Santoro led Kent State with 17 points and teammate Katie Shumate added 15 in defeat.

The Zips will look to extend their four-game winning streak when they host the Ohio Bobcats at 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 21. The action from James A. Rhodes Arena can be heard on 640 WHLO AM and be seen on ESPN3.