Women's MAC Tournament

[ZachTheZip]

Akron needs to pour in on in the 2nd half. Open up as big a lead as they can so the starters can sit a little earlier.

[plowerman78]

6 or 7 not many, im courtside for this one following the twitter http://twitter.com/AKROWDIES_0910 ill be updating it every game except akrons (after tonight of course)

[ZachTheZip]

6 or 7 not many, im courtside for this one following the twitter http://twitter.com/AKROWDIES_0910 ill be updating it every game except akrons (after tonight of course)

Thanks for the update. You don't know how badly I wish I was there.Twitter and Facebook are blocked here, too. It's like sensory deprivation.

[Z.I.P.]

Akron needs to pour in on in the 2nd half. Open up as big a lead as they can so the starters can sit a little earlier.

You got it! It's 47 to 30 early in second half. This one's about over.

[ZachTheZip]

Akron needs to pour in on in the 2nd half. Open up as big a lead as they can so the starters can sit a little earlier.

You got it! It's 47 to 30 early in second half. This one's about over.

Sounds good so far, but I hope you'll forgive me if I don't stop worrying until the final whistle.

[Z.I.P.]

Akron needs to pour in on in the 2nd half. Open up as big a lead as they can so the starters can sit a little earlier.

You got it! It's 47 to 30 early in second half. This one's about over.

Sounds good so far, but I hope you'll forgive me if I don't stop worrying until the final whistle.

Worry all you want, but Akron leads 52-35. 10:14 left.

[ZachTheZip]

EMU is the most athletic team in the MAC, and if certain Zipsnation members are to be believed, athleticism is the end-all-be-all when it comes to basketball and there's not a thing you can to to beat a superior athletic team.

[zipseuph]

when was the last time our womens team won a tourny game (knocks on wood)

[plowerman78]

2000

[ZachTheZip]

If we hold on, the next game will be played on Friday at 2:30PM.

[ZachTheZip]

Is the gametracker right? Did we deliver a 72-46 beatdown to EMU? If so, then to the team! It's time to break through against BG!

[ZachTheZip]

It's true!Zips Ground Eagles, Advance to MAC Semifinals Courtesy: Akron Media Relations Release: 03/10/2010 Courtesy: Ernie Aranyosi CLEVELAND – The fourth-seeded University of Akron women's basketball team defeated fifth-seeded Eastern Michigan, 72-46, in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament Wednesday night at Quicken Loans Arena. With the win, the Zips (18-12) will next face top-seed Bowling Green in the semifinal round Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena. It is the just the second time Akron, which snapped a nine-game losing streak at the MAC Tourney, has advanced to the semifinals in school history.UA used a 21-8 run over the final nine minutes of the first half and the first two minutes after the half to break open up a tight game early on with the league's No. 1-ranked offensive unit. Akron, which leads the MAC in defense, held the Eagles (22-8) to their lowest output since the start of MAC play. Kara Murphy paced the Zips with 19 points.Ayla Guzzardo had the hot hand early, knocking down a pair of threes as the Zips and Eagles played to a 20-all tie midway through the first half. But back-to-back lay-ups by Rachel Tecca sparked an 18-8 run over the final nine minutes of the period as Akron rolled to a 38-28 lead at the break. Guzzardo was key to during that stretch, scoring seven points en route to a 13-point, first-half performance. The senior guard connected on 5-of-8 attempts from the floor, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. EMU's Tavelyn James led all scorers with 17 first-half points on 7-for-13 shooting. The Zips shot 44.1 percent (15-for-34) from the field as a team in the opening period while holding the Eagles to 37.5 percent (12-for-32). Akron scored eight of the first 10 points of the second half to push out to a 17-point lead, 47-30, and force a time out by EMU at the 16:13 mark. Baumgartner got the Zips started with a mid-range jumper, then split a pair of free throws on UA's next possession. Eastern Michigan's Chenise Miller answered with a pair of free throws, but four straight points from Murphy and a baseline jumper from Amber Witt gave Akron its largest advantage of the game to that point. Zips Notebook: Prior to Wednesday night's win, the UA's last victory at the MAC Tournament came during the 2001 season ... The Zips have now won three straight games against EMU and four of their last five ... Wednesday's win was UA's first against a West Division school in 12 attempts.

[johnnyzip84]

Wow!! Way to go ladies!!! Now it's time to knock out the champ.

[Z.I.P.]

When Jody Kest took the job as head coach -- what, three years ago? -- I asked Gavin Peterson, the ex-Hawaii assistant coach (and the first guy I knew to move directly from team manager to an assistant coaching position), who had worked for Kest at Texas A&M CC what type of game to expect from a Kest-led team.'Look for an up-tempo game, both offensively and defensively, with active half-court defensive schemes based on aggressive man-to-man ball-hawking. Look offensively for the team to run in transition whenever possible, to take shots quickly on the shot clock, and for a lot of three-point shots to be put up.'It looks like Jody has fully implemented her defensive game plan at Akron this season, and her team has made a name for itself with its overall defensive effort and the numbers speak for themselves. The team will set a school record for points allowed, standing around 58 ppg on D. That must be in the top 10-20 nationally, I would suspect.I also suspect a win in the semis will assure Akron of at least a WNIT bid. But forget that. They have the potential to do what Ball State did last year. Let's knock off the champs!

[wadszip]

EMU is the most athletic team in the MAC, and if certain Zipsnation members are to be believed, athleticism is the end-all-be-all when it comes to basketball and there's not a thing you can to to beat a superior athletic team.

I think you are joking, but if not, there is a huge disparity between an athletic men's team vs. an average athletic men's team compared to an athletic women's team vs. average women's teams. Anyway, great win and lets hope the men's team will follow through with a similiar effort tommorow (since it's after midnight) I should say later today.

[UAZipster0305]

Great win, ladies! Keep it going.

[RootforRoo44]

EMU is the most athletic team in the MAC, and if certain Zipsnation members are to be believed, athleticism is the end-all-be-all when it comes to basketball and there's not a thing you can to to beat a superior athletic team.

I think you are joking, but if not, there is a huge disparity between an athletic men's team vs. an average athletic men's team compared to an athletic women's team vs. average women's teams. Anyway, great win and lets hope the men's team will follow through with a similiar effort tommorow (since it's after midnight) I should say later today.

Regardless, point is proven. Athleticism does not win basketball games on its own. The negativity regarding Can't being "more athletic" on this board is ridiculous. Can't won because they wanted it more and executed better...period. The Zips can beat them if they play their game and play with some more heart.

[wadszip]

EMU is the most athletic team in the MAC, and if certain Zipsnation members are to be believed, athleticism is the end-all-be-all when it comes to basketball and there's not a thing you can to to beat a superior athletic team.

I think you are joking, but if not, there is a huge disparity between an athletic men's team vs. an average athletic men's team compared to an athletic women's team vs. average women's teams. Anyway, great win and lets hope the men's team will follow through with a similiar effort tommorow (since it's after midnight) I should say later today.

Regardless, point is proven. Athleticism does not win basketball games on its own. The negativity regarding Can't being "more athletic" on this board is ridiculous. Can't won because they wanted it more and executed better...period. The Zips can beat them if they play their game and play with some more heart.

Your point is far from proven, especially when you talk about "heart" and "wanting it more" being the difference.How do you know that Can't wanted the game more? How do you know they have more heart? It's impossible to judge that. Plus, I will argue that Akron played with heart. Once Can't got up 20, Akron didn't give up. They started to execute on the offensive end and got it back within 10 points with still 5 or so minutes to play. Problem is, Can't continued to execute and seemingly had an answer for every Akron basket after that spurt. How was Can't sucessful? They had guards who could create their own shot or penetrate and open up their bigs (Green, Simpson who aren't athletic specimens) for good looks. Can't isn't the second coming, but don't be naive to say that them "wanting it more" and playing "with more heart" was the reason they won BOTH games by double digits.

[GoZips]

Ahem ... !!!!This thread pertains to the Lady Zips. Or, at least it is suppose to.Last night was a great shot in the arm for Akron. The gals played their best game that I haveseen in a long, long time. EMU is a quality opponent. EMU was relegated to the fifth seedsimply because the Zips had beaten them during regular season play. There is nothing in theirbio that indicates that the Lady Hurons (nee: Eagles) would be anything less than a rough go.EMU came into this game with great credentials. Over twenty wins, the highest average pointsper game in the league, they are young, athletic and talented. Plus, they had the revenge factor.All for naught as the Lady Zips took care of business with solid play at both ends of the court.A stat no one has yet mentioned played a key role in the win. The Lady Zips committed only12 turnovers for the game. EMU had a respectable (for the women) 18 turnovers yieldinga six turnover differential for the Zips.Tavelyn James (and no, I don't care if I spelled her name correctly) went off on the Zips forseventeen first half points. She also helped Amber Witt pick up two first half fouls trying toguard her (James). Coach Kest made it a priority for Amber to shut down Miss James. Which,Amber did admirably. Here is a cute sidebar: In the post game quotes Miss James explains her lack of point productionin the second half. " Tavelyn James (on being held scoreless in the 2nd half): "I missed a lot of shots in the 2nd half. Shots that I usually make. I don't think it was because of their defense." "Looking at the play-by-play record I find that James took a grand total of THREE shots in the second half. But, of course, Amber Witt's dogging her was not a factor.The only disappointment at last night's game was the total lack of Zips fans. BGSU, Miami andCANT were all well represented. Once again, the AK-Howdies did their disappearing act.

[Captain Kangaroo]

EMU is the most athletic team in the MAC, and if certain Zipsnation members are to be believed, athleticism is the end-all-be-all when it comes to basketball and there's not a thing you can to to beat a superior athletic team.

I think you are joking, but if not, there is a huge disparity between an athletic men's team vs. an average athletic men's team compared to an athletic women's team vs. average women's teams. Anyway, great win and lets hope the men's team will follow through with a similiar effort tommorow (since it's after midnight) I should say later today.

Regardless, point is proven. Athleticism does not win basketball games on its own. The negativity regarding Can't being "more athletic" on this board is ridiculous. Can't won because they wanted it more and executed better...period. The Zips can beat them if they play their game and play with some more heart.

Quade Milum was Dambrot's most athletic recruit.Not a very good basketball player, however.

[ZachTheZip]

The Lady Zips are back in action Friday at 2:30 against Bowling Green. Be there.

[MDZip]

The semifinal loss to BGSU was pretty disappointing since they weren't competitive at all, but someone needs to give a shoutout to the ladies on a great season. They could well be following the same path as the men, making those incremental improvements every year. Interesting quote from BGSU coach Curt Miller about Coach Kest:When asked his thoughts on Kest's coaching performance during the past four years, Miller said ''Amazing.''''Jodi has done it the right way,'' he continued. ''It is all about class. She is the coach of the year [in the MAC] for a reason. She is a brilliant tactician.''She had some very talented players when she took over, but some of them lacked good character. She has rebuilt the entire core by going out and getting strong character kids. That program is a not a one-hit wonder. They will continue to be in the mix.''Interesting because he took one of those "problem players" he is referring to. But he is certainly right that the ZSips are not likely to be at the end of their run.