The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
5-7,0-2MAC
Ball State
12-2,2-0MAC
Akron Edged by League-Leading Ball State, 71-64, in OT
January 06 | Women's Basketball
BOXSCORE (PDF)
AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron women's basketball team played arguably its most complete game of the season before falling to Ball State, 71-64, in overtime at James A. Rhodes Arena on Saturday (Jan. 6).
The Zips had four players score in double figures, led by junior Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio), who secured her Mid-American Conference best eighth double-double of the season with a 16-point and 10-rebound performance. Redshirt senior Morgan Haney (Piqua, Ohio) tacked on 15 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Lanae Riley (Akron, Ohio) chipped in with 13 points off the bench. Junior Kaia Woods (Tiffin, Ohio) contributed 11 points, a career- and Akron season-best six assists, and four rebounds to spark the Zips to 29-17 edge in bench scoring.
Bass pulled down three of Akron's 10 offensive rebounds to pace an attack that converted those caroms into 11 second-chance points.
Akron's defense held Ball State, who came into the contest shooting more than 45 percent (.453) from the field this season, to only 38.7 percent shooting mark from the field on the afternoon.
How It Happened
The opening stanza proved to be a back-and-forth period as Akron kept it close, but entered the second frame down 10-8.
Ball State built a 28-21 advantage before Akron went on a 7-0 run sparked by five points from Bass to tie the game at 28. Ball State then hit a pair of free throws to enter the intermission holding a 30-28 advantage.
Akron came out of halftime rallying and led by four points from Haney constructed a 36-35 lead before going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a three from senior Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario), to expand its lead further to 42-35 with 3:30 to go in the third quarter. The Cardinals rallied to tie it at 44-44 heading into the final quarter.
Ball State then snagged a 49-48 advantage before Akron responded by going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Riley's layup, to seize a 53-49 lead with 4:21 to go in the fourth. The Cardinals fought back to even things up at 60-60 with a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining to send the game to overtime, the Zips' NCAA-leading fourth overtime contest of the year. Akron took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 10 of its 16 points in the paint.
The two teams exchanged baskets to open the overtime session before Ball State went ahead to stay on a three pointer with 1:21 remaining n route to earning the triumph.
Game Notes
» Bass notched a double-double for the Zips with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
» The Zips held the Cardinals to only 38.7 percent shooting from the field, only the fifth time Ball State has been held under 40 percent this season.
» The Akron bench came alive by adding 29 points to its scoring output.
» Riley and Woods came off the bench to score 13 and 11 points, respectively.
» Akron posted a 43-37 rebounding advantage, including 33-27 on the defensive glass. The 33 defensive caroms is one shy off an Akron season-best mark of 34.
» Akron cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 10 offensive boards in the game.
Up Next
Akron hosts Central Michigan in a 7 p.m. contest on Wednesday (Jan. 10) at James A. Rhodes Arena.
