Women’s basketball falls to Bucknell on Education Day

By Jake Allen, Sports Editor

The University of Akron women’s basketball team lost to Bucknell University on Wednesday morning, 61-47, in Akron’s Fourth Annual Education Day.

The Zips record falls to 2-2 on the young season, while Bucknell improves to 5-2. Akron has now won and lost one game at home and on the road this season.

For the first time this season the Zips didn’t have a single player score in double-digits. In fact, the Zips were led by Alex Ricketts and Shaunay Edmonds who scored six points each. Edmonds had a team-high five rebounds, four assists, and three steals in the game.

Zips’ leading scorer Hannah Plybon was held in check for the first time this season, scoring just five points on 2-8 shooting from the field. After making a school-record nine 3-pointers in her last game, the senior made zero of her three attempts from deep on Wednesday morning.

Also for the Zips, Alli Ball had five points, as did Megan Sefcik, and Haliegh Reinoehl. Forward Greta Burry added four points and four rebounds in 30 minutes of play, while Shayna Harmon (four), Brooke Kurucz (three), Fredniqua Walker (two), and Lauren Hung (two) contributed to the offense off the bench.

Sune Swart led the Bisons with 17 points on 7-8 shooting. Forward Kaitlyn Slagus contributed a double-double with 13 points, aided by three 3-pointers, and a game-high 11 rebounds. Kyi English contributed with 11 points and four assists and Kate Walker added ten points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

A porous second half, especially in the third quarter, was the story of this game for Akron. The Zips entered halftime with a 28-26 lead, but were outscored 18-6 in the third quarter en-route to the Bisons victory. The Zips went just 2-15 from the field in the third quarter, and they would never catch up with Bucknell’s offense.

The Zips struggled from deep, going just 3-14 (21 percent) from beyond the arc. They also made just six of 12 free throws. These were huge factors in the game, as the Bisons outscored them 37-15 from 3-pointers and free throws.

The Zips will look to get back over the .500 mark this weekend when they travel to Rock Hill, South Carolina to play Winthrop University on Saturday. The Eagles have got off to a horrible start, with their record standing at 1-7. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. at Winthrop Coliseum.