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Four Zips Score in Double Figures as Akron Earns 64-51 Win Over Iona
November 29 | Women's Basketball
BOXSCORE (PDF)
HAMILTON, NY - The University of Akron women's basketball team had four players score in double figures on the way to a 64-51 win over Iona at the Colgate Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday (Nov. 29).
Sophomore Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) led Akron with a game-high 13 points. Senior Alexus Mobley (Indianapolis, Ind.) tacked on 12 points to go along with seven rebounds, while senior Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) and junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) each added 11-point efforts.
Junior Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) pulled down three offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Akron, who grabbed 10 offensive boards and turning them into seven second-chance points.
Akron's defense held Iona to only 31 percent shooting from the field. The Zips also limited Zoey Ward to 4-of-15 shooting and nine points in the game. The Gaels did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as Akron cleared 34 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
After exchanging baskets to open the game, Akron went on a 6-0 run with 8:15 left in the first quarter to take an 8-2 lead. The Zips maintained a 14-10 advantage entering the second quarter. Akron relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 14 points.
Iona rallied to take a 21-20 lead before Akron went on a 5-0 run starting at the 3:11 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from freshman Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio), to take a 25-21 lead. The Zips proceeded to tack on one point to that lead and enjoyed a 27-22 advantage heading into halftime. Akron dominated in the paint, scoring 10 of its 13 points close to the basket.
Akron wasted no time building on its lead, going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a three from Vejsicky, to expand its lead further to 34-22 with 8:44 to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Zips added four points to that advantage and entered the fourth quarter with a 51-35 edge. Akron scored 18 of its 24 points in the paint.
The Zips then held on for the victory in the fourth quarter. Akron got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring six of its 13 total points.
Game Notes
» The Zips held the Gaels to only 31 percent shooting from the field.
» Akron never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
» The Akron bench came alive by scoring 21 points.
» Akron posted a 44-30 edge on the boards in the win.
» Akron cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 10 offensive boards in the game.
» Clarke led the Zips with a game-high 13 points.
» Akron got a game-high nine rebounds from redshirt senior Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.).
» Junior Kam'Ren Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.) pulled down a career-best six rebounds for the Zips.
Up Next
Akron battles Colgate in the championship game of the Colgate Thanksgiving Tournament on Saturday (Nov. 30) at 4 p.m.
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