University of Akron can't muster offense in loss to Buffalo in women's MAC Tournament

Buffalo dominated the University of Akron in the semifinals of the Women's Mid-American Conference Tournament on Friday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

The second-seeded Bulls took control early and never looked back, steadily building their lead throughout an 82-43 win over the Zips.

Bulls guard Dyaisha Fair led all scorers with 28 points and added five rebounds, four steals and six assists.

Jordyn Dawson led the third-seeded Zips with 15 points with Reagan Bass following with 12.

The Zips never found their rhythm on offense, shooting 26% for the game and 5% from behind the 3-point line. The Bulls connected on 51% of their shots.

The Bulls owned a 44-33 advantage on the glass as well.

Relentless Buffalo Bulls defense

The Bulls defense allowed them to build a lead quickly and maintain it. Blink and the run that produced a 22-12 lead at the 9:46 mark of the second quarter would have been missed. When the Zips cut that lead to 22-19, the Bulls produced another stellar defensive stretch that allowed them to go ahead 32-21 at the half.

The Zips seemed to settle for 3-point shots because Buffalo closed off the paint. Had the Zips shot better than 1-of-19 from the 3-point line, it would have at least made the game closer. The Bulls also outscored the Zips 46-16 in the paint.

Zips guard Layne Ferrell gave credit to the Bulls zone defense, which gave UA fits throughout the game.

“Our shooting percentages weren’t great and that’s something you have to do to even be in a close game with them is shoot the ball well,” she said.

Guard Rachel Martindale offered a blunt assessment.

“I think we were stagnant,” she said. “I think they made us do that."

The Zips had no answer for Dyaisha Fair

In two prior games this year, Fair scored 20 and 25 points respectively. She led the conference in scoring and led all scorers Friday. A candidate for conference player of the year, she scored in every conceivable way, producing a dominant effort. She led a Bulls offense that shot 51% from the floor and 50% from behind the 3-point line.

“She’s a great player,” UA coach Melissa Jackson said. “She can score at all three levels. They’re so good in transition. She thrived in that. I thought we lost her at times today, obviously. We mixed up our defenses … really nothing could stop her today. She’s tough. Just so good.”

What’s next for the Zips?

UA will lose four seniors, including MAC Player of the Year Jordyn Dawson. Being picked to finish last in the conference, what Jackson and the Zips accomplished merits praise, so she thinks her team will be back.

They made it to Cleveland for the first time since 2016 and the Zips won their first game in this year’s tournament.

Jackson admitted looking at the final score was difficult.

“It’s tough. We’re going to remember that. We’re going to learn from it and we’re going to be back,” she said, “and we’re going to be motivated to win in the semis and get to that championship game.”

Reach George M .Thomas at gthomas@thebeaconjournal.com or on Twitter @ByGeorgeThomas.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Buffalo defense stymies Akron Zips in Women's MAC Tournament