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By Michael Beaven
Special to the Beacon Journal
POSTED: 08:54 p.m. EST, Feb 06, 2010
University of Akron women's basketball coach Jodi Kest stresses the importance of playing good defense and rebounding the ball to her team on a regular basis.
Kest's pupils are definitely listening to their mentor.
The most recent example came Saturday afternoon, when UA defeated Northern Illinois 57-39 in a Mid-American Conference game at Rhodes Arena.
The Zips (14-9, 8-2) deployed a smothering defense that frustrated the Huskies (8-14, 2-8) all game. The 39-point total was the lowest amount UA has allowed this season.
''We know that for us to be successful, we need to play strong defense and rebound,'' Kest said. ''We know that if we play hard defensively and we rebound, we have a shot to win every game. This was another game where I thought our kids played extremely hard defensively.''
Junior forward Kara Murphy led the Zips with 17 points and five rebounds. UA sophomore center Kyle Baumgartner contributed 12 points and nine rebounds and junior guard Amber Witt scored 11 points.
The victory gives the Zips their fifth in a row in the MAC and the eight conference wins match the second-highest total in league play in program history, with six regular season games remaining.
''I think our team is feeling really good because we struggled in past years,'' Witt said. ''It is nice to be having this success.''
The Zips also improved to 9-1 at home, matching the program record for home wins in a season, with at least three more to play.
NIU made 16-of-51 (31.4 percent) shots from the field and was 0-of-8 from beyond the 3-point arc. UA countered by making 19-of-52 (36.5 percent) shots from the field and was 5-of-16 from 3-point range.
''They didn't have too many open looks and that is a compliment to our young ladies,'' Kest said. ''Our ladies did a super job of not allowing their 3-point shooters to get easy looks. When they did get looks, they had a hand in their face, or at times in the end, we had two defenders on them.''
The Zips also held an advantage in rebounds (38-32) and at the free-throw line, converting 14-of-17 attempts. The Huskies made 7-of-13.
''We did an excellent job getting offensive rebounds and limiting them to one shot [per possession],'' Kest said. ''They did not get many offensive rebounds in the second half. I am pleased with the kids. They have been working very hard and they have a lot of confidence right now. This is a time of year where it is important to have confidence.''
Zips senior point guard Ayla Guzzardo was also a key player, with seven points and five assists.
UA led 22-15 at halftime on the strength of an 18-4 scoring run that changed a 4-3 deficit to a 21-8 lead with 4:34 remaining in the half. Murphy accounted for seven of the points during the surge and Guzzardo scored five points.
''I have seen so many improvements from the time I got here to now,'' said Murphy, who went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. ''We have so many players that can contribute. It is a total team effort.''
NIU cut its deficit to 24-21 with 17:52 to go in the second half. The Zips responded with a 17-1 run to take control of the game and lead 41-22 with 10:04 left. Baumgartner scored six points during the surge.
UA extended its lead to 20 points twice in the game.
''Our kids did a great job and I am very proud of them,'' Kest said.
Junior guard Marke Freeman (17 points) and junior forward Mauvolyene Adams (11 points) guided the Huskies.
UA is second in the MAC East Division after Kent State (14-8, 7-3) lost to host Eastern Michigan 78-72 Saturday. Bowling Green (19-5, 9-1) remains in first place in the MAC East, following an 80-76 victory Saturday at Ball State.
University of Akron women's basketball coach Jodi Kest stresses the importance of playing good defense and rebounding the ball to her team on a regular basis.
Kest's pupils are definitely listening to their mentor.
The most recent example came Saturday afternoon, when UA defeated Northern Illinois 57-39 in a Mid-American Conference game at Rhodes Arena.
The Zips (14-9, 8-2) deployed a smothering defense that frustrated the Huskies (8-14, 2-8) all game. The 39-point total was the lowest amount UA has allowed this season.
''We know that for us to be successful, we need to play strong defense and rebound,'' Kest said. ''We know that if we play hard defensively and we rebound, we have a shot to win every game. This was another game where I thought our kids played extremely hard defensively.''
Junior forward Kara Murphy led the Zips with 17 points and five rebounds. UA sophomore center Kyle Baumgartner contributed 12 points and nine rebounds and junior guard Amber Witt scored 11 points.
The victory gives the Zips their fifth in a row in the MAC and the eight conference wins match the second-highest total in league play in program history, with six regular season games remaining.
''I think our team is feeling really good because we struggled in past years,'' Witt said. ''It is nice to be having this success.''
The Zips also improved to 9-1 at home, matching the program record for home wins in a season, with at least three more to play.
NIU made 16-of-51 (31.4 percent) shots from the field and was 0-of-8 from beyond the 3-point arc. UA countered by making 19-of-52 (36.5 percent) shots from the field and was 5-of-16 from 3-point range.
''They didn't have too many open looks and that is a compliment to our young ladies,'' Kest said. ''Our ladies did a super job of not allowing their 3-point shooters to get easy looks. When they did get looks, they had a hand in their face, or at times in the end, we had two defenders on them.''
The Zips also held an advantage in rebounds (38-32) and at the free-throw line, converting 14-of-17 attempts. The Huskies made 7-of-13.
''We did an excellent job getting offensive rebounds and limiting them to one shot [per possession],'' Kest said. ''They did not get many offensive rebounds in the second half. I am pleased with the kids. They have been working very hard and they have a lot of confidence right now. This is a time of year where it is important to have confidence.''
Zips senior point guard Ayla Guzzardo was also a key player, with seven points and five assists.
UA led 22-15 at halftime on the strength of an 18-4 scoring run that changed a 4-3 deficit to a 21-8 lead with 4:34 remaining in the half. Murphy accounted for seven of the points during the surge and Guzzardo scored five points.
''I have seen so many improvements from the time I got here to now,'' said Murphy, who went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. ''We have so many players that can contribute. It is a total team effort.''
NIU cut its deficit to 24-21 with 17:52 to go in the second half. The Zips responded with a 17-1 run to take control of the game and lead 41-22 with 10:04 left. Baumgartner scored six points during the surge.
UA extended its lead to 20 points twice in the game.
''Our kids did a great job and I am very proud of them,'' Kest said.
Junior guard Marke Freeman (17 points) and junior forward Mauvolyene Adams (11 points) guided the Huskies.
UA is second in the MAC East Division after Kent State (14-8, 7-3) lost to host Eastern Michigan 78-72 Saturday. Bowling Green (19-5, 9-1) remains in first place in the MAC East, following an 80-76 victory Saturday at Ball State.
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Canton, OH
Posted 09:04 PM, 02/06/2010
. . .YES . . .. .
