AKRON, Ohio (Interstat) — In a season defined by struggle, the Akron Zips authored a stunning and resilient comeback Wednesday night, erasing a 19-point second-half deficit to outlast the Ohio Bobcats 108-105 in a double-overtime women’s basketball marathon at James A. Rhodes Arena.

The victory, secured before an intimate crowd of 779, snapped a three-game losing streak for Akron and improved its record to 7-19 overall and in the Mid-American Conference. Ohio, which entered as a heavy favorite, fell to 15-10.

The game’s defining sequence, and the catalyst for Akron’s improbable win, was a breathtaking third-quarter collapse by the visiting Bobcats. Ohio had seemingly taken firm control after halftime, exploding for 35 points in the third period to turn a 30-32 halftime deficit into a commanding 67-54 lead heading into the final quarter. The Bobcats’ offense was firing, and the Zips, who managed only four points in the entire second quarter, appeared buried.

But the fourth quarter witnessed a dramatic and complete reversal. Akron, fueled by a torrent of three-pointers and stifling defense, unleashed a 32-point quarter. The Zips connected on 6 of 10 attempts from beyond the arc in the period, with Liz Murphy and Keiryn McGuff hitting critical shots. Meanwhile, Ohio’s offense stalled, managing just 19 points and committing key turnovers under Akron’s heightened pressure. The Zips methodically chipped away, finally drawing even to force overtime at 86-86.

The first overtime was a tense back-and-forth affair, with both teams scoring 13 points. Ohio’s Bailey Tabeling, who finished with a game-high 25 points, hit a crucial three-pointer to keep pace, but Akron’s Murphy answered with a triple of her own. The period ended deadlocked at 99, setting the stage for a second extra session.

Fatigue was evident, but Akron mustered one final push. With the score tied at 102, Akron’s senior guard Shaena Brew, the undisputed star of the night, found Murphy for a clutch three-pointer with under 30 seconds remaining in the second overtime to give the Zips a 105-102 lead. Brew, who played 40 minutes, finished with 18 points and a remarkable 12 assists, orchestrating the offense with precision throughout the comeback.

Ohio had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but a desperation three-point attempt by Tabeling missed as time expired. McGuff secured the final rebound and was fouled, sinking a free throw to provide the final margin.

Brew’s performance was a masterclass in floor leadership, particularly following a 26-point outing in her previous game. She was supported by a balanced scoring attack: McGuff, a Dublin, Ohio native, scored 22 points and grabbed key rebounds, while Murphy, from Yackandandah, Spain, added 20 points, all crucial. Izzy Callaway contributed 19 points and Ni’Rah Clark added 17 for the Zips.

For Ohio, the loss wasted a spectacular offensive performance from Tabeling and a dominant inside game. The Bobcats scored 48 points in the paint and out-rebounded Akron offensively, 13-9. Arianna Jennings added 19 points off the bench, Gigi Bower scored 16 and Aliah McWhorter had 14. However, Ohio’s 11-of-42 shooting from three-point range proved costly, especially against an Akron team that shot a blistering 20 for 40 from deep.

The statistical disparity highlighted the nature of the contest. Akron scored 108 points on just 95 possessions, an elite offensive rating of 113.4, largely due to their three-point barrage. Ohio, despite its high point total, was less efficient, posting a 105.8 offensive rating on 99 possessions. The Zips also won the turnover battle, committing 19 to Ohio’s 16, and capitalized with 15 points off those miscues.

This result flipped the script from the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 3, a 73-56 Ohio victory in Athens. The Bobcats will look to rebound when they host Bowling Green on Feb. 25. Akron, riding the high of a season-defining win, will prepare to host Kent State this Saturday.