Balanced Scoring Attack Highlights Akron's 73-64 Victory Past Ohio in MAC Opener

Wednesday, January 4

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

10-2,1-0MAC

Ohio

2-10,0-1MAC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Ohio	12	16	16	20	64
Akron	16	20	17	20	73

Balanced Scoring Attack Highlights Akron's 73-64 Victory Past Ohio in MAC Opener

January 04 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOXSCORE (PDF) | POSTGAME COMMENTS

AKRON, Ohio - Defense, rebounding and senior leadership won the day for the Akron women's basketball team as the Zips (10-2, 1-0 MAC) opened Mid-American Conference play with a 73-64 home win over Ohio (2-10, 0-1 MAC) on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Defensively, Akron limited Ohio to 38.8-percent shooting mark, while also besting the visitors on the glass by a 40-32 margin. The Zips also forced 20 turnovers and converted them into 13 points, while leading for the entire game.

Sophomore F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) topped the Zips with a 17-point and 11-rebound performance for her second double double of the season. Redshirt junior G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) notched 16 points, while senior G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.), senior G Dominique Camp (Dayton, Ohio) and senior F Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) rounded out a balanced attack scoring 12, 12 and 11 points, respectively, to deliver Akron's 10th win of the season. Martindale also played a major role defensively, tallying a career-high six steals.

A strong start allowed the Zips to maintain the lead throughout, forcing the Bobcats to play catch-up from the opening minutes on. The visitors made multiple runs but could never pull even. A short burst in the second quarter narrowed the Akron edge to three, 28-25, but as they did time after time in the game, the Zips countered with a triple from Martindale.

Facing an Ohio defense reliant on pressure, Akron was able to exploit the Bobcats for consistent open looks and finished the evening shooting 40.7 percent from the field. Combined with a 24-5 scoring margin at the foul line, that was enough to open the MAC season on a winning note. The 88.9-percent foul shooting effort was the second-best of the season, trailing only a 19-of-21 effort in a win over Robert Morris.

Yaya Felder led Ohio with 22 points, while Abby Garnett added 18 for the visitors.

Following the win, the Zips will head on the road for their next two games, beginning with a 1 p.m. contest against Miami on Jan. 7. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.