Teamwork, emphasized by coaches and players alike, gave the Ohio women's basketball team an extra boost against Akron Tuesday night.
Ohio (6-8 overall, 2-1 Mid-American Conference) beat MAC opponent Akron (0-14, 0-3 MAC) in a mid-week roadgame, 80-69.
We have had trouble winning on the road and we needed this win
coach Lynn Bria said. The team shut down the key Akron players and played strong defense.
The first half was a battlefield for both teams, as the lead changed nine times. The Zips started the game with a quick two-pointer, but guard Quintana Ward answered back with two baskets for the Bobcats, making the score 4-2.
Baskets by forward Kristian Kirkpatrick and guard Simone Redd put the team up by six, the biggest lead Ohio would grab in the first half. The Zips came back with several baskets of their own to tie the score at 21-21 with seven minutes remaining in the half.
The teams continued to battle for the lead until key baskets by three Ohio players gave the Bobcats a 35-32 halftime lead.
Ohio's play during the second half completely changed the pace and feel of the game, eventually taking a 14-point lead, the largest in the game. The Bobcats would not allow Akron to regain the lead.
The Zips were able to cut Ohio's lead down to 10 with fewer than two minutes left in the game but Ohio didn't buckle. After a timeout called by Akron's coach, the Bobcats sealed the victory with several key free throws, ending the game 80-69.
In the win, nine players were able to score, four of whom ended the game in double digits.
Ward and wing Andrea Johnson led the team's offense with 16 points each. Adding to that were Redd with 14 and Kirkpatrick with 12.
We do really have people who can score at any time Bria said. At this level you just can't have one person doing the scoring.
Ohio pulled down 46 rebounds, 14 on the offensive glass, compared to Akron's 31. The team shot 48 percent and 76.2 percent from the free throw line.
The Bobcats will be back at home Saturday to take on Central Michigan at 1 p.m. in The Convo.
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Abbey Smith
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Ohio University freshman Quintana Ward (left) drives past Oakland's Petra Manakova during a 107-98 win in The Convo Nov. 19.
