The University of Akron women’s basketball team opened the 2015-2016 season by dropping a 91-77 decision on the road against the Florida Atlantic Owls.

Akron (0-1) had four players in double figures but it was not enough as the Owls grabbed an early lead by scoring 11 of the first 13 points of the game and never looked back. The Zips started the evening 0-for-5 from the field in the first four and a half minutes of the first quarter.

While Akron was struggling from the field, the Owls were hitting three pointers like crazy. Florida Atlantic (1-0) hit four of their first five in the beginning four and a half minutes.

Anita Brown was Akron’s leading scorer with 27 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Hannah Plybon added 21 points, meanwhile Greta Burry and Alli Ball each double-doubles. Burry had 14 points and 12 rebounds, both career highs, while Ball collected a career-high 11 boards. Megan Barilla added five assists for the Zips.

Florida Atlantic’s Ali Gorrell was the Owl’s leading scorer with 26 points to go with nine assists.

In the second period, Akron was down but not without a fight, Burry scored six consecutive Akron points to cut the deficit to 33-26, but the Owls went on a 6-1 run towards the end of the half and took their largest lead of the night at 39-27.

The Zips put together another run to start the second half as Plybon hit a couple of three pointers and had 8 points in a 13-6 stretch that cut the lead to 46-45 with 7:38 left in the third period. However that would be the closest the Zips would get.

The Owls answered the Zips run with one of their own and enjoyed a 64-56 lead with 1:41 remaining in the period.

Akron managed to close to within six to start the fourth period, but eventually Florida Atlantic when on a 11-4 run to put the game away.

Akron shot 42.3 percent from the field, but had problems shoots for three point territory and went 6-of-22 for 27.3 percent. Florida Atlantic connected on 46.7 percent from the floor, and 11-of-29 in three-point shooting.

The Zips out-rebounded the Owls 42-23 and out-scored them in second chance points, 19-6. Akron committed 18 turnovers to Florida Atlantic’s 10, and the Owl converted those 18 miscues into 28 points.

The Zips return to action on Friday, for their home opener against Winthrop when Akron hosts the Akron Classic. First tip is 10:30 a.m. and the game will serves as the Zips’ Education Day.