University of Toledo
AKRON
Toledo Sustains 63-62 Loss at Akron
2/11/2007 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats
AKRON, OH - Akron's Niki McCoy scored 17 of her game-high 28 points in the second half and the Zips claimed a 63-62 victory over Toledo at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Sylvania Northview High School graduate converted a clutch three-point play with 49.7 seconds left to break a 60-60 tie and improved the Zips to 9-14 overall, 2-9 in the Mid-American Conference.
The Rockets (8-15, 4-7 MAC) were led by senior Danielle Bishop and sophomore Diana Reindl with 13 points apiece, while senior Savannah Werner added 12. UT shot a respectable 43.6 percent (24-of-55) from the field, but only 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from the charity stripe.
"We had our opportunities, but I didn't think we played with a lot of passion," said Toledo Head Coach Mark Ehlen, whose team was guilty of 15 turnovers. "A game like this you have to make free throws, which we didn't, and as a result we came up short."
Toledo looked great at the start, scoring the first seven points of the contest. The Rockets hit three of their first four shots from the field, including a triple by Bishop, to force Akron into a timeout at 18:26.
UT continued to red hot from the field, making eight of its first 10 shots to run its advantage to 17-6 with 13:39 remaining. Five different Rockets found the scoring column in the opening part of the game.
Facing a double-digit deficit, Akron relied on the strong inside play of Riana Miller and Jessie Crooks to go on a 10-1 run and cut the margin to 18-16 at 10:40. The duo scored eight of the 10 points in the rally to make it a two-point contest.
After building the early lead, UT's offense went into a dry spell. The Rockets tallied only field goal over the next six minutes. The Zips were able to take advantage of the situation and a jumper in the lane by McCoy tied for score at 20-20 with 7:30 remaining in the half.
The teams battled back-and-forth for the remainder of the half and the score was tied 32-32 at the intermission. Reindl paced the Rockets with 10 points in the opening 20 minutes, while McCoy led the Zips with 11, including their last seven.
Toledo started the second stanza the same way it began the first and scored seven of the initial nine points to establish a 39-34 advantage with 16:36 left in regulation. Werner, who sat most of the first half because of foul trouble, led the opening spurt with a three-point play.
As quickly as the Rockets had established the second-half lead, UA's McCoy erased it with seven-consecutive points to put the home team ahead for the first time, 41-39, at 14:54.
McCoy remained hot shooting the ball and the layup at 11:57 pushed Akron's lead to 50-44 and forced UT into a timeout. The Sylvania, OH native scored 11 points in the first nine minutes of the half.
The Zips' lead would remain at least five points for the next six minutes until UT's Bishop drilled a triple, followed quickly by a layup from junior Ta'Yani Clark to make the score 55-54 at 5:22.
The Rockets' comeback would be complete after Bishop connected on her third triple of the contest and helped the visitors reclaim the lead, 60-58, with 1:28 left in regulation.
Out of a timeout, Akron went inside to McCoy, who tallied the clutch three-point play to give the lead back to the home team for good.
The Rockets turned the basketball over on their possession and forced to quickly foul. UA's Jessie Crooks, who finished with 16 points off the bench, made both charity tosses with 12.7 left to make it a three-point game, 63-60.
UT pushed the ball up the floor and junior Kristi Zeller fired up a three-pointer. Zeller's shot missed, but Werner secured the rebound and scored on an offensive putback to make it a one-point game.
The Rockets quickly fouled again and this time Lauren Stephenson missed both free-throw attempts with 1.7 seconds left to keep it a one-point contest. Following the second miss, Werner's desperation three-point attempt at the buzzer was blocked to seal the victory for the Zips.
Today marked UT's ninth game decided by six points or less this season and second in as many contests. Toledo defeated Ohio 63-62 this past Thursday and is 4-5 in those games.
The Rockets return to action at home on Wednesday, Feb. 14 to battle West Division leader Ball State. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Savage Hall.
