There’s having a balanced scoring attack, and then there’s having six different players score in double figures.
Akron achieved that feat against Ohio on Thursday night as the Zips were just two points shy of the century mark in their 98-82 defeat of Ohio.
“Neither team played what I consider any kind of defense,” Ohio coach Semeka Randall said. “This was like an NBA score right here.”
Rarely does a player’s 33-point performance take the back seat in a game, but that’s what happened to Ohio junior guard Erin Bailes. She connected on seven of 11 shots from long range.
“I’ve said it all along: (Bailes) is our most consistent player; she just comes and works,” said Randall. “Kudos to her.”
But it wasn’t enough as Akron blitzed the Bobcats with a hexagonal scoring assailment.
The Bobcats (6-20, 1-13 Mid-American Conference) secured a 12-7 lead at the first media timeout against the MAC East-leading Zips (19-8, 10-4 MAC) behind five early points from Bailes.
Bailes hit a three-pointer with 4:59 left in the first half to pull within two of Akron 35-33. Ohio senior guard Symone Lyles then hit a layup to tie the game, but the Zips scored six unanswered points to stretch their lead.
Bailes had 18 points at the break but Ohio still trailed the Zips 49-43. The Bobcats’ first half was uncharacteristically high-scoring as they had eight more points at halftime than they did in the entire Buffalo game this past Saturday.
Akron junior guard Hanna Luburgh chipped in 11 points, nine from beyond the arc. She would finish with 17. Fellow forwards redshirt junior Rachel Tecca and junior Sina King scored 24 and 22 points respectively.
Ohio opened the second stanza with two quick layups from junior guard Shavon Robinson and a three from Bailes to cut Akron’s lead to 55-50 with 17:55 left in the game. After that, the Zips compiled a 10-0 run from the 13:24 mark to the 9:44.
Akron out-rebounded Ohio 39-24 in the game, and it was the difference in the game.
“You can’t win a basketball game with this many mental breakdowns in a game,” Randall said. “You have to limit them.”
The Bobcats sagged back to their usual recipe of poor defense, scoring droughts, and subpar decision making yet again.
Ohio’s next game is Saturday at Bowling Green (18-9, 9-5 MAC) as the Bobcats continue their search for elusive MAC wins.
“We just have to keep plucking away, get some rest tonight, and regroup,” Randall said. “Then travel over to Bowling Green.”
jm269009@ohiou.edu
