The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
5-5,0-0MAC
Canisius
1-7,0-0MAAC
Taponen Leads Four Zips in Double Figures in 82-43 Victory Against Canisius
December 07 | Women's Basketball
BOXSCORE (PDF) | POSTGAME COMMENTS
AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron women's basketball team garnered a career-high 16-point performance from junior Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) in a 82-43 win against Canisius on Saturday (Dec. 7) at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Zips (5-5) had four players score in double figures, led by Taponen, who had 16 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) tacked on 14 points and freshman Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) helped out with a career-best 13-point and six-rebound effort off the bench. Redshirt senior Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.) added her team-leading third double double of the season with a 10-point and 10-rebound performance.
Led by Clark's four offensive rebounds, Akron did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 10 boards that resulted in 14 second-chance points.
The Akron defense held Canisius shooters to only 29.8 percent from the field, including 26.7 percent from three-point range. The Golden Griffins did not get many second opportunities on the offensive end, as they grabbed only six offensive rebounds and scored five second-chance points while Akron pulled down 29 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 14-6 advantage, Akron went on an 8-0 run with 2:37 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Clarke, to increase its lead to 22-6, a score that held at the end of the period. Akron relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 22 points.
Akron kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 7-0 run starting at the 5:12 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Clark, to increase its lead to 40-17. The Zips proceeded to tack on three points to that lead and enjoyed a 47-21 advantage heading into halftime. Akron dominated in the paint, scoring 14 of its 25 points close to the basket.
Akron continued to preserve its halftime margin before going on a 10-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Taponen, to expand its lead further to 59-27 with 2:29 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Golden Griffins had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Zips still entered the fourth quarter with a 61-30 edge. Akron played well near the basket, scoring eight of its 14 points in the paint.
Akron kept widening that lead, expanding it to 76-41 before going on a 6-0 run to grow the lead to 82-41 with 1:21 to go in the contest. Akron got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring nine of its 21 total points.
Game Notes
» Akron registered a season-best 22 assists and nine steals
» Brown notched a double-double for the Zips with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
» The Zips shot well from three point range, knocking down eight of 19 long range attempts.
» The Zips held the Golden Griffins to only 29.8 percent shooting from the field.
» The Zips never trailed in the game.
» The Zips shared the ball well, recording an assist on 76 percent of made baskets.
» The Akron bench made an impact by adding 36 points to its scoring output.
» Clark and Brown came off the bench to score 13 and 10 points, respectively.
» Akron had a 39-29 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Akron defense forced 22 turnovers.
» Akron cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 10 offensive boards in the game.
» Taponen led the Zips with a game-high 16 points.
» Akron got a game-high 10 rebounds from Brown.
Up Next
Akron hosts No. 23 Michigan on Friday (Dec. 20) in a noon contest at James A. Rhodes Arena.
