Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Coach Wright Postgame

AKRON, Ohio -- The Miami University women's basketball team battled hard throughout a very physical game, but the University of Akron pulled away in the fourth quarter to take a 77-65 win on Saturday. The RedHawks fall to 9-12 on the season and 3-7 in the Mid-American Conference. The Zips improve to 12-10 overall and 6-5 in the MAC.

Freshman point guard Leah Purvis led four members of the Red and White in double figures with 19 points. She drained four 3-point baskets in 34 minutes of action. Sophomore guard Ana Richter did a little bit of everything with 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals in 26 minutes. Sophomore guard Kayla Brown finished with 10 points.

Sophomore forward Molly McDonagh had her third double-double of the season with 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Eight of those rebounds were offensive, which was the most by any RedHawk this season. She also had three assists and two steals in 33 minutes of action.

After giving up the first five points of the game, Richter got Miami on the board by draining a three-pointer. A three-pointer from sophomore guard Jazz Smith gave the Red and White an 8-7 advantage with 5:38 remaining in the quarter. Akron went back in front by four before a pair of free throws from Richter and a layup by sophomore forward Megan Galloway tied the score at 12. The Zips closed the period on a 5-2 run to take a 17-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Akron pushed the lead to seven at 27-20 with 5:48 left in the second quarter. A layup from Richter and a three-pointer from Purvis helped Miami close to within two at 29-27. Purvis hit a pair of free throws, but the RedHawks shot went cold as the Zips took a 37-29 advantage into halftime.

Richter opened up the third quarter with a layup as Miami got its offense back on track. Brown had a pair of a layups to help pull the `Hawks to within three at 47-44 with 4:04 to go in the period. A three-pointer from Purvis tied the score at 47, while her free throw gave Miami its first lead since the first quarter at 48-47 at the 2:52 mark. The Zips retook the advantage with a three-pointer, but a layup by McDonagh and a free throw by Brown gave it back to the RedHawks. Another triple in the final minute put Akron on top, 53-51, going into the fourth quarter.

The Zips opened up the final period on an 8-1 run to go ahead 61-52 with 5:34 to go in the contest. A layup by freshman point guard Nanci Hunter and a three-pointer from Purvis helped get the Red and White as close as seven at 64-57 with 4:21 to go. Despite a couple of jumpers from McDonagh, Miami was unable to get any closer as Akron hit its free throws down the stretch to finish off a 77-65 win.

The Zips shot 47.2 percent (25-for-53) for the game, while the RedHawks hit 33.3 percent (21-for-63) of their shots. Miami stayed in the contest thanks to a 45-35 rebounding advantage that included an impressive 19-5 lead in offensive rebounds. Akron was led by Hannah Plybon with 26 points.

The RedHawks remain on the road Wednesday when they travel to Northern Illinois. The game will feature a special noon (EST) time.