Sunday's Scoreboard
Toledo 71, Oakland 59
Miami 68, Notre Dame 88
Eastern Michigan 62, UIC 66
Bowling Green 70, Valparaiso 60
Akron 95, Bluefield State 61
Stories Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
Toledo 71, Oakland 59
Box Score
TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo outscored Oakland 41-24 in the second half en route to claiming a 71-59 victory in Sunday's season opener at Savage Arena. The Rockets trailed the Golden Grizzlies 35-30 at intermission before exploding for 41 points in the second half to take down the Horizon League member Golden Grizzlies (0-2).
The Midnight Blue & Gold connected on a sizzling 53.3 percent (16-of-30) from the floor over the final 20 minutes to register its third-consecutive triumph over Oakland.
Sophomore Quinesha Lockett tallied 16 of her career-high 22 points after intermission to lead the Rockets' attack. Lockett, who also collected a game-best four steals, finished 10-of-15 from the field and 2-of-5 from the free throw line to top the 20-point barrier for a second time as a Rocket.
Classmate Sophia Wiard added a career-high 15 points, a collegiate-best 10 rebounds and a game-high five assists to post her first-collegiate double-double.
Toledo also received 10 points each from senior Tatyana Davis and freshman Sammi Mikonowicz, as well as benefited from eight points by newcomer Khera Goss to register its 14th win in its last 15 games against Horizon League foes. Davis also contributed a career-high three rejections.
The Rockets controlled the action close to the basket, posting a decisive 42-28 edge in points in the paint.
For the game, the Rockets shot 42.9 percent (27-of-63) from the field, including 23.1 percent (3-of-13) from three-point land, and 70.0 percent (14-of-20) from the charity stripe.
Alona Blackwell paced Oakland with 22 points, followed by Kahlaijah Dean with 15.
Miami 68, Notre Dame 88
Box Score
South Bend, Ind. -- The Miami University women's basketball team got its season underway on Sunday afternoon, falling 88-68 at No. 22 Notre Dame.
Eastern Michigan 62, UIC 66
Box Score
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – In its first home game since March 9, the Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team fell to the University of Illinois-Chicago, 66-62, Nov. 29, inside the Convocation Center.
Eastern (1-1; 0-0 MAC) raced out to an early lead, but surrendered it in the second quarter after an 11-0 UIC (1-1; 0-1 Horizon) run. Both teams traded baskets over the final two periods, scoring 30 points apiece, but the effort was not enough for the Eagles, who fell just short of a second 2-0 start in its last five seasons.
Redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)) registered a career night, recording new career-highs in points (30), made field goals (14), rebounds (11), assists (2), steals (2), and minutes (37). For Skanes, she becomes the first Eagle to reach the 30-point plateau since then-sophomore Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin, N.Y.-Baldwin) notched 31 against Western Michigan, Feb. 8, 2020.
Redshirt senior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) scored in double-digits, finishing with 13 points as she increased her double-figure scoring streak to 26 games. The Oklahoma native also paced the team in assists with five, marking a new season-high. The effort was her third as an Eagle with five-or-more assists. Annecchiarico swiped eight balls from the Flames to attain a new career-high in steals, while recording a season-high in assists (4) and rebounds (6). Redshirt junior Juanita Agosto (Seattle, Wa.-Garfield) also showed great hustle all game, earning eight hard-fought points and five total rebounds, three of which on the offensive end.
The Flames opened up the game's scoring a layup, however, the Eagles responded by going on an 8-0 run over a three-minute stretch to move ahead, 8-2. The streak was highlighted by an Agosto rebound in which she drove the length of the court for the fast break bucket. Minutes later, Skanes showcased her skills in the paint when she grabbed an offensive rebound and made a layup over her defender. Annecchiarico was active on the defensive side of the balling, picking-off an ill-advised Flames' pass that resulted in an easy Eagles' bucket. Skanes finished the period hitting 4-of-6 shots for eight points while wrangling in five rebounds as the quarter wrapped up with EMU in front, 18-11.
An 11-0 UIC run was the highlight of the action in the second quarter. Down by as many as 10 in the first half, UIC's run put them ahead, 23-22, with just under six minutes remaining in the frame. Skanes hit a contested jumper and followed that up with a defiant block on the defensive end. The Oklahoma City product was efficient sharing the ball as well, as she dished a nifty pass in the paint to redshirt junior RayJon Harris (Euclid, Ohio-Euclid) for the score to give the Eagles the lead once again, 32-31, with under one minute remaining in the half. Combs paced all players in the first half with four assists. Meanwhile, Agosto displayed her athleticism by pulling in three offensive boards and nabbing two steals. UIC retook the lead going into the half, 36-32.
Facing a sizeable scoring drought at the start of the second half, EMU broke through for a bucket when Skanes hit a layup with 4:27 on the clock, courtesy of an assist by Combs. That bucket brought EMU back within three, 43-40, however, the Flames were quick to respond with a basket of their own, whcih extended their lead back to six, 46-40. Skanes picked up where she left off in the first half, dominating on the offensive end and reaching the 20-point mark with about two minutes remaining in the quarter. Shortly after, a fast break basket by Combs, assisted by Annecchiarico helped the Eagles inch closer to UIC, 48-46. The third quarter ended in a stalemate, with UIC holding a four-point lead, 50-46. EMU was still in search of its first basket beyond the arc. Unfortunately, it never found it, finishing the game with an 0-for-15 mark.
Agosto opened fourth quarter scoring for the Eagles with a strong drive to the basket, putting the Eagles within one possession of the Flames, 50-48. EMU tied it up at 50-apiece two minutes into the fourth quarter with layup from Skanes, but the lead was quickly retaken by the Flames with a three of their own. The Green and White continued to trail closely thanks to the efforts of Skanes, who remained strong in the paint. She reached the 30-point mark and grabbed 11 rebounds in the game. In addition to those numbers being career-bests, they are also single-game season bests for any EMU player during the 2020-21 campaign. The final minutes remained close as EMU remained persistent, however, the Eagles ultimately fell to the Flames, 66-62.
Bowling Green 70, Valparaiso 60
Box Score
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- Freshman Lexi Fleming scored a game-high 24 points in her collegiate debut, propelling the Bowling Green State University women's basketball team to a 70-60 win over Valparaiso University Sunday afternoon (Nov. 29). The game, the 2020-21 opener for both teams, was held at the Stroh Center.
Junior Kadie Hempfling scored 10 points for the Brown and Orange as a total of nine different players found the scoresheet.
BGSU led by just a single point, 48-47, after three quarters, but the Falcons went on a 19-1 run to begin the fourth period, sealing the victory. Valpo's first field goal of the quarter did not come until the home team had built a 19-point lead and just 2:29 remained in the contest.
Senior Angela Perry had nine points, while classmate Madisen Parker and sophomore Elissa Brett had six apiece. Brett led the Falcons with 10 rebounds on the day.
Akron 95, Bluefield State 61
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron women's basketball team opened its season with a resounding 95-61 home win over visiting Bluefield State (0-2) on Sunday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Senior F Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.) led the Zips on the day, posting a 19-point and a team-best 12-rebound performance, while sophomore F Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) added 16 and junior F Colleen Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) reaching double figures with 10-point effort. Dawson also contributed four steals and three assists.
Akron (1-0) finished the contest shooting nearly 45 percent (.447) from the field, while limiting the Big Blue to a 30.6-percent shooting effort. The Zips also won the battle of the boards, 53-45, including a 41-34 edge on the defensive glass.
Akron outscored Bluefield State in the paint, 44-22, while also registering an edge in fast-break points (18-2).
The Zips were directed by nine, seven, six and six points, respectively, off the bench from sophomore G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.), sophomore G Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio), redshirt freshman G Emma Tecca (Tallmadge, Ohio) and freshman G Kate Garry (Loveland, Ohio).
The Zips led for the entire contest, racing out to an early lead behind strong defensive pressure and red-hot shooting. Brewer had 10 in the first half alone and was joined in the scoring frenzy by Martindale, who had nine points before the break to propel Akron to a 57-27 halftime lead.
With 12 players seeing action and all 12 scoring, third-year head coach Melissa Jackson saw her squad turn in a balanced effort less than a week after its scheduled season opener against Ohio State was canceled. That balance gave Akron a 37-27 edge in bench points, with the Zips' second unit continuing to add to the team's lead throughout the evening.
Capitalizing on a decided size and speed advantage, Akron routinely battled its way through the Bluefield State defense for good looks at the basket and scored on second-chance hoops as they snared 12 offensive rebounds.
Undeterred by the delayed start of their season, the Zips shot a scorching 51.4 percent from the field in the opening half – including 57.1 percent from 3-point range - and racked up 31-first-quarter points to put the Big Blue on their heels early.
The onslaught continued in the second quarter as Tecca drained a 3-pointer and assisted on another to help fuel a 14-0 run for the hosts to open the period.
Thanks to a suffocating defensive effort, Akron was able to prevent the Big Blue from significantly cutting into its lead, as the visitors couldn't get any closer than 28 after intermission. The strong defensive effort limited Bluefield State to 30.6-percent shooting and forced 16 turnovers, helping Akron to a 21-4 margin in points off turnovers.
The Zips' dominance at the foul line helped power their offense as well, with the hosts shooting 18-of-25 from the charity stripe and outscoring Bluefield State 18-9 in that category.
Jia Coppola led Bluefield State with 10 points in defeat and Katrina Davis added nine for the Big Blue.
Akron will make a quick turnaround and return to the court after just one day off when it hosts Northern Kentucky on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. The contest can be heard on 640 WHLO-AM.
