Zips Drop Heartbreaker to Ohio, 69-66

Monday, February 21

Akron, Ohio

5:00 PM

University of Akron

13-9,10-6MAC

Ohio

14-10,8-7MAC

Ohio

Akron

February 21 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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BOXSCORE (PDF) | Postgame Press Conference

AKRON, Ohio- A game that featured one plot twist after another came down to the closing seconds, with the Ohio Bobcats prevailing 69-66 over the Akron Zips in Mid-American Conference action Monday evening at James A. Rhodes Arena.

With the two sides neck and neck, a 5-0 burst by Ohio gave the visitors a 59-55 edge with 5:11 remaining before Akron countered with a 9-0 run of its own, keyed by clutch 3-pointers by junior guard Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa,) and sophomore guard Annika Corcoran (Painesville, Ohio.

However, Ohio was able to regain control of the game, outscoring Akron 10-0 to turn a five-point deficit into a five-point lead with six seconds remaining before a Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) jumper at the buzzer left the hosts down by three to close out the game.

Redshirt senior forward Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W Va.) led the Zips with 22 points and 15 rebounds, notching her 11th double-double of the season and scoring in double scoring in double figures for the 16th straight game while surpassing 20 points for the ninth consecutive outing. Dawson added seven assists to further stuff the stat sheet.

Bass delivered another solid outing as well, with the freshman forward recording 17 points and eight rebounds.

The Zips (13-9, 10-6 MAC) and Bobcats simply couldn't shake one another all evening long, as the margins at the end of each quarter were 0, 1, 2 and 3 points. A quick scan of the stat sheet further illustrates the closeness of the matchup, as the two teams attempted the same number of field goals and were separated by a single tally in turnovers, blocked shots and second-chance points.

Precise passing was one key area where Akron held a noticeable edge, assisting on 21 of its 28 made field goals compared to just 10 assists on 26 made buckets for the Bobcats.

The contest saw 11 ties and 17 lead changes, with neither squad garnering a double-digit lead at any point. Defensively, the Zips held the Bobcats (14-10, 8-7 MAC) to 40.6-percent shooting and committed just 11 fouls, which not only limited the visitors to 13 free throw attempts but kept key members of the Akron rotation out of foul trouble and available down the stretch.

Senior guard Cece Hooks led Ohio with 28 points and senior forward Gabby Burris was the only other player in double figures for the Bobcats with 11.

The Zips hit the road on Wednesday for a road tilt with Bowling Green. The Zips and Falcons square off from the Stroh Center at 7 p.m. and the broadcast can be heard on WHLO 640-AM.