Final	1	2	T
Akron (12-17 (6-9 MAC))	30	46	76
Kent State (6-19, (5-10 MAC))	34	43	77
M.A.C. Center - Kent, Ohio

Akron	Kent State
Pts: KING, Sina - 20	Pts: SCHAEFER, Leslie - 16
Reb: KING, Sina - 12	Reb: SCHAEFER, Leslie - 12
Ast: CASSELL, Kacie - 4	Ast: LLOBET, Itziar - 6

Team Statistics	Akron	Kent State
Field Goal %	36.6% (26-71 )	44.8% (26-58 )
Rebounds	49	35
Assists	15	19
Turnovers	17	15
Pts off Turnovers	14	10
2nd Chance Pts	16	7
Pts in the Paint	26	32
Fastbreak Pts	2	8
Bench Pts	29	14

full stats

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Bragging rights and 2012 Mid-American Conference Tournament seeding are at stake as the Kent State women’s basketball team plays host to Akron Saturday (Feb. 25) at 2 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center. All fans in attendance will receive Rally Towels and will once again have the opportunity to participate in the always intense Basketball Bingo during the game. Tickets start at just $5. For more information contact the Kent State Athletics Ticket Office at (330) 672-2244.

The contest marks round two of the women's hoops portion of the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge between the rival athletic programs. The Golden Flashes (5-19, 4-10 MAC) are looking to avenge at tough 68-62 road loss to the Zips (12-16, 6-8 MAC) on Jan. 14 at Rhoades Arena. The Golden Flashes are also looking to put an end to a seven-game losing skid.

Saturday's game against the Zips will feature live stats and free live web video. The provided links will activate at the start of Saturday's game.

Saturday's contest will be aired live on both WAKR 1590 AM and KentStateSports.com, with Dave Wilson providing play-by-play commentary for a second straight season. Click the link above to listen live on your computer.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

AKRON ZIPS

All-time series: Kent State leads, 47-7

Kent State Head Coach Bob Lindsay vs. Akron: 36-4

Current Streak: L1

Kent State could not overcome a late rally by archrival Akron, falling 68-62 on Jan. 14 at Rhoades Arena.

The Golden Flashes led the Zips by as much as 10 points in the second half and held a 59-56 edge with just under four minutes to play, but Akron closed the game on a 12-3 run to earn the come-from-behind victory.

Junior forward Diamon Beckford (Upper Darby, Pa.) tallied 21 points to lead all scorers. Junior guard Tamzin Barroilhet (Sainte Maxime, France) also reached double figures, totaling 16 points. She also led the Flashes with eight rebounds and six assists.

Four Zips finished the game in double figures. Senior forwards Jasmine Mushington and Ti'eshia Stubbs led the way with 15 apiece while sophomore forwards Sina King and Carly Young each added 13.

PNC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE

Saturday's battle marks the second women's basketball game of the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge between the programs.

The Challenge is based on a time-honored competition for the historic wooden Wagon Wheel Trophy awarded originally in 1945 to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game.  For the 2011-12 academic year, the PNC-sponsored rivalry will broaden the competition to include 15 NCAA varsity sports, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings. In keeping with tradition, the annual winner of the football contest will gain possession of the historic wooden Wagon Wheel trophy, while the school that accumulates the most total points in all varsity matchups for that academic year will receive an overall series trophy. Kent State currently holds a 3.5-2.5 advantage over Akron in this year’s challenge.

FLASH BACK: FEB. 21 AT BUFFALO

 A late rally helped host Buffalo overcome the Kent State women's basketball team, 85-72, Tuesday (Feb. 21) at Alumni Arena.

The squads split the regular season series between the two teams. Kent State recorded an 85-73 win over Buffalo on Jan. 19 at the M.A.C. Center.

The Golden Flashes placed all five starters in double digits in scoring for the first time in over a year (Feb. 17, 2011, at Miami) shot 53.7% from the field and took a 37-35 lead into halftime, marking just the fourth time this season Kent State led at the break. The second half featured 13 lead changes, but unfortunately for Kent State, the Bulls took a 66-65 lead with just over seven minutes remaining and never looked back, taking advantage of six turnovers by the Flashes down the stretch to close the game out on a 21-7 run.

Barroilhet tallied a team-high 20 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Junior guard Trisha Krewson (Sandusky, Ohio) and freshman guard Itziar Llobet (Sant Cugat de Valles, Spain) each added 15 points. Junior center Leslie Schaefer (Verona, Wis.) contributed 12 points while freshman guard Jamie Hutcheson (Ancaster, Ontario) totaled 10 points and swiped a game-high four steals on the defensive end, matching her career high.

Senior guard Brittany Hedderson and redshirt sophomore forward Nytor Longar totaled 24 and 21 points, respectively, to lead Buffalo.

FLASH FORWARD

Kent State closes the 2011-12 regular season by welcoming MAC East Division rival Bowling Green to the M.A.C. Center next Tuesday (Feb. 28). Tip time is set for 7 p.m. Tickets start at just $5. For more information contact the Kent State Athletics Ticket Office at (330) 672-2244.