Saturday, March 4
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1 p.m.
Central Michigan University
6-23,4-14MAC
54
vs
61
Akron
17-12,8-10MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Akron
11
10
19
21
61
Central Mich.
16
13
17
8
54
Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography
Fourth Quarter Rally Helps Akron Win 61-54 Decision Over Women's Basketball
3/4/2023 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Central Michigan led through the first three quarters, but Akron outscored the Chippewas 21-8 in the fourth quarter to claim the win; Sydney Harris leads CMU with a game-high 20 points.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Central Michigan played one of its most efficient halves of the year and led through the first three quarters, but Akron outscored the host Chippewas 21-8 in the fourth quarter to notch a 61-54 win over the hosts Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Arena.
The contest marked Central Michigan's final game of the 2022-23 season as its four seniors— Jahari Smith, Anika Weekes, Mikala Hall, and Jnaya Walker—were honored in a post-game ceremony. With the loss, CMU concludes its year with a 6-23 overall record and 4-14 Mid-American Conference record.
Freshman Sydney Harris scored a game-high 20 points (10-22 FG) and grabbed five rebounds to lead Central Michigan. Fourteen of those 20 points were scored in the first half. Harris registered her 12th 20-point scoring contest of the year and finished the season by reaching double digit scoring in 26 of CMU's 29 games. Graduate Nadege Jean finished the contest with nine points, including eight consecutive in the third quarter, to go along with six rebounds. Smith grabbed eight rebounds and scored six points and Weekes added seven rebounds for the Chippewas.
Four players led Akron (17-12, 8-10 MAC) in double figures. Reagan Bass finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, Layne Ferrell scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Molly Neitzel added 12 points, and Dominique Camp contributed 11.
It was all Central Michigan through the game's first three quarters. The Chippewas led 46-40, but Akron scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 46-46 with 8:05 to play. From that point, it was a back-and-forth battle as the lead changed hands six times within a three-minute span.
Akron took its first lead since the early minutes of the game, 49-48, on a 3-point play by Bass with 6:55 to go. Ferrrell's driving layup gave Akron a 53-52 advantage with 4:13 left, then Bass pushed the lead to 55-52 after converting an open layup with 3:40 to go. CMU's Harris responded with a driving layup to cut the deficit to 55-54, but Akron's Bass scored again on a 3-point play after receiving a pass from Ferrell and the Zips took a 58-54 lead with 1:37 to go. Akron's Dominque Camp added a free throw, Rachel Martindale then hit two free throws for a 61-54 Akron lead with 30.3 seconds to play.
CMU converted just 1-8 field goals in the last 4:55.
In the first half, Harris powered Central Michigan with 14 points while converting 7-11 shots as the Chippewas took a 29-21 lead into halftime. The Chippewas gradually built their lead throughout the half. A 3-pointer by Hall and a layup by Harris gave CMU an early 10-7 lead, then Harris and Anderson closed out the quarter with buckets as Central Michigan led 16-11 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, CMU extended its advantage as Weeks converted a layup and Harris hit a jumper at the free throw line for an eight-point lead (23-15) at the 5:44 mark. A Harris jumper helped CMU maintain the eight-point margin, then Harris hit a jumper at the 1:52 mark and CMU suddenly led by 10 points (29-19), its largest margin of the game.
Akron made a run at the start of the third quarter as it scored nine of the second half's first 13 points. The Zips cut CMU's lead down to 35-32 on a Reagan Bass layup at the 6:12 mark. But Central Michigan answered with a 5-0 run fueled by two Nadege Jean layups, the second that went for a 3-point play, and pushed the Chippewas' lead back up to 42-34 at the 3:47 mark. Using eight consecutive points from Jean, the Chippewas were able to keep the Zips at bay while clinging to a 46-40 lead at the end of the third quarter.
In the post-game senior ceremony, Central Michigan honored its four senior players and their visiting families including Jahari Smith, Anika Weekes, Mikala Hall, and Jnaya Walker. In addition, Director of Basketball Operations Jerod McCullen was recognized.
The contest marked Central Michigan's final game of the 2022-23 season as its four seniors— Jahari Smith, Anika Weekes, Mikala Hall, and Jnaya Walker—were honored in a post-game ceremony. With the loss, CMU concludes its year with a 6-23 overall record and 4-14 Mid-American Conference record.
Freshman Sydney Harris scored a game-high 20 points (10-22 FG) and grabbed five rebounds to lead Central Michigan. Fourteen of those 20 points were scored in the first half. Harris registered her 12th 20-point scoring contest of the year and finished the season by reaching double digit scoring in 26 of CMU's 29 games. Graduate Nadege Jean finished the contest with nine points, including eight consecutive in the third quarter, to go along with six rebounds. Smith grabbed eight rebounds and scored six points and Weekes added seven rebounds for the Chippewas.
Four players led Akron (17-12, 8-10 MAC) in double figures. Reagan Bass finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, Layne Ferrell scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Molly Neitzel added 12 points, and Dominique Camp contributed 11.
It was all Central Michigan through the game's first three quarters. The Chippewas led 46-40, but Akron scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 46-46 with 8:05 to play. From that point, it was a back-and-forth battle as the lead changed hands six times within a three-minute span.
Akron took its first lead since the early minutes of the game, 49-48, on a 3-point play by Bass with 6:55 to go. Ferrrell's driving layup gave Akron a 53-52 advantage with 4:13 left, then Bass pushed the lead to 55-52 after converting an open layup with 3:40 to go. CMU's Harris responded with a driving layup to cut the deficit to 55-54, but Akron's Bass scored again on a 3-point play after receiving a pass from Ferrell and the Zips took a 58-54 lead with 1:37 to go. Akron's Dominque Camp added a free throw, Rachel Martindale then hit two free throws for a 61-54 Akron lead with 30.3 seconds to play.
CMU converted just 1-8 field goals in the last 4:55.
In the first half, Harris powered Central Michigan with 14 points while converting 7-11 shots as the Chippewas took a 29-21 lead into halftime. The Chippewas gradually built their lead throughout the half. A 3-pointer by Hall and a layup by Harris gave CMU an early 10-7 lead, then Harris and Anderson closed out the quarter with buckets as Central Michigan led 16-11 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, CMU extended its advantage as Weeks converted a layup and Harris hit a jumper at the free throw line for an eight-point lead (23-15) at the 5:44 mark. A Harris jumper helped CMU maintain the eight-point margin, then Harris hit a jumper at the 1:52 mark and CMU suddenly led by 10 points (29-19), its largest margin of the game.
Akron made a run at the start of the third quarter as it scored nine of the second half's first 13 points. The Zips cut CMU's lead down to 35-32 on a Reagan Bass layup at the 6:12 mark. But Central Michigan answered with a 5-0 run fueled by two Nadege Jean layups, the second that went for a 3-point play, and pushed the Chippewas' lead back up to 42-34 at the 3:47 mark. Using eight consecutive points from Jean, the Chippewas were able to keep the Zips at bay while clinging to a 46-40 lead at the end of the third quarter.
In the post-game senior ceremony, Central Michigan honored its four senior players and their visiting families including Jahari Smith, Anika Weekes, Mikala Hall, and Jnaya Walker. In addition, Director of Basketball Operations Jerod McCullen was recognized.
—CMU—
Team Stats
UA
CMU
FG%
.463
.391
3FG%
.250
.067
FT%
.800
.600
RB
31
40
TO
11
13
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballWBB Annual Golf Outing
Friday, September 12
WBB Practice
Friday, July 04
MAC WBB Tournament Press Conference
Wednesday, March 12
Video Podcast: Amy Folan Connection-Women's Basketball March Madness and the Growth of the Game
Wednesday, March 12