AKRON, Ohio - In its final preparation for the 2021-22 season, the Slippery Rock University women's basketball team lost an exhibition game to the University of Akron, 97-54, Tuesday at the James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio.
 
While the game served as a preseason contest for The Rock it was an official game for Akron (1-0), a Division I team which competes out of the Mid-America Conference.
 
Rock point guard Daeja Quick led all Rock players with 20 points while pulling in three rebounds and committing just two turnovers.
 
Jamiyah Johnson nearly recorded her second double-double of the preseason with an eight-point, 12-rebound showing Tuesday. Johnson had 11 points and 12 rebounds Nov. 3 at nationally ranked Ohio State.
 
Deleah Gibson added nine points and team-bests of three steals and two assists while Isabellah Middleton chipped in eight points and a pair of steals in addition to three rebounds.
 
Rounding out The Rock's top contributors were post players Anyah Curd and Kelley McKnight. Curd battled through foul trouble to finish with two blocks and five rebounds while McKnight, just a freshman, contributed five points and three rebounds.
 
Slippery Rock proved more than capable of hanging with Akron early on. The Zips jumped out to a quick 17-9 advantage on The Rock midway through the first quarter only for SRU to counter with an impressive 13-6 run of its own over the following seven minutes and with 8:37 left in the first half Slippery Rock had played Akron to a 22-22 tie.
 
The Rock's run featured five different players scoring at least two points and a defensive effort in which SRU limited the Zips to a 2-for-16 showing from the field.
 
However, any thoughts of an SRU upset were put to rest when Akron closed the first half on a 21-11 run to head into the break leading 43-32. UA went on to stretch its lead to as many 43 points on the way to its first win of the year.
 
For the game, Slippery Rock shot 29.4 percent (20-of-68) from the field overall while making four 3-pointers and converting 66.7 percent (10-of-15) of its free throws. SRU cut its mistakes in half compared to the OSU exhibition as The Rock had just 15 miscues Tuesday as opposed to 33 against the Buckeyes.
 
Akron concluded the night shooting 46.1 percent (35-of-76) from the field. 13 of Akron's made attempts came from 3-point territory. Akron also held a 55-40 edge over The Rock in rebounds while committing just nine turnovers. Jordyn Dawson led the Zips with 31 points.
 
Slippery Rock officially starts its 2021-22 regular season this weekend with a pair of games at the Earl Lloyd Classic in Institute, West Virginia as SRU first plays Notre Dame College 6 p.m. Saturday followed by a 3 p.m. Sunday contest against host West Virginia State University.
 
 


 
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