Neitzel's Career Night Helps Lead Akron to 72-70 Triumph Past Eastern Michigan

Wednesday, February 15

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

15-9,6-7MAC

Eastern Michigan

13-11,5-8MAC

Eastern Mich.

Akron

Neitzel's Career Night Helps Lead Akron to 72-70 Triumph Past Eastern Michigan

February 15 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOXSCORE (PDF) | POST-GAME COMMENTS (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron women's basketball team picked up a key Mid-American Conference win Wednesday evening at James A. Rhodes Arena, holding off visiting Eastern Michigan for a 72-70 triumph.

Senior F Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) delivered a career-high 22 points to match the total she posted against Bowling Green in 2021 en route to sparking the Zips to a .448 shooting mark on the evening.

Sophomore F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) also reached double figures with an 18-point and five-rebound performance, while redshirt junior G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) scored 13 to go with seven rebounds. Rounding out the double-figures scorers for Akron with 10 points and six assists was senior G Dominique Camp (Dayton, Ohio).

Defense was once again a decisive factor for Akron, as the Zips (15-9, 6-7 MAC) converted 14 Eastern Michigan turnovers into 15 points, while committing a season-low nine turnovers of their own. The Eagles shot 41.5 percent from the field, 20.0 percent from three-point range in defeat, allowing the Zips to sweep the season series between the two teams.

Akron trailed for just 34 seconds in the game, with Neitzel giving her side the lead for good with a three-pointer at the 9:26 mark of the opening quarter. The triple kicked off a personal 8-0 run for Neitzel as the Zips built their edge to as many as 11 in the opening half.

Despite multiple attempted rallies, the Eagles (13-11, 5-8 MAC) could never pull even the rest of the way as Akron secured an important win in the battle for seeding in the upcoming MAC Tournament.

Neitzel set the tone for the evening, dominating the first quarter, and tallying 13 points to outscore the Eagles all by herself in the frame. She was on-point from inside and outside, making a pair of three-pointers to help her squad to a 21-12 lead after the opening period.

She was also a key part of a defensive effort that limited Eastern Michigan to 34.3-percent shooting in the first half. The Zips also forced eight turnovers in the opening 20 minutes and converted those miscues into 10 points on the other end.

Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu topped Eastern Michigan with 26 points and a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with 19 points from Lachelle Austin.

UP NEXT:
Up next for Akron is the second installment of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge as the Zips travel to take on Kent State at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. Catch the action on ESPN3 and the radio broadcast on WHLO 640-AM.