Miami University
Central Michigan
Jackson Shines as Miami Downs Central Michigan, 79-70
1/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 27, 2007
OXFORD, Ohio - Behind 23 second-half points from junior Amanda Jackson, the Miami University women's basketball team (11-10; 5-3 MAC) turned a three-point halftime deficit into a nine-point margin of victory as it downed the Central Michigan Chippewas (9-12; 1-7 MAC), 79-70, Saturday afternoon at Millett Hall. In a game televised nationally on ESPNU, Jackson finished with a career-high tying 31 points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds as Miami posted its 11th straight home win over Central Michigan.
Playing in front of the largest home crowd of the season, Jackson notched her second career 30-point game and fourth career double-double, finishing 12-of-20 from the field and hitting on 3-of-6 from behind the arc. Junior Jaclyn Leininger (17 points) and sophomore Ashley Hawkins (16 points) also scored in double figures for Miami, while sophomore Eve Pyle tied a season-high with 13 rebounds, her third double-digit rebound game in the past four outings.
Miami and Central Michigan traded baskets after tip off, and the teams went into the first media timeout knotted at 8-8. The Chippewas scored the first four points of the game, but the RedHawks responded by going inside, as Jackson, Leininger and junior Laura Markwood each scored in the paint on aggressive moves to the basket. A transition jumper from Jackson and an offensive rebound and putback from Leininger pushed Miami's lead to 12-8 by the 11:58 mark, but a 9-4 Central Michigan run put the Chippewas back in front, 17-16, with 7:58 remaining in the first half.
After sophomore Eve Pyle powered in a layup and gave Miami an 18-17 edge at the 7:11 mark, Central Michigan pushed its lead to four at 25-21, but Markwood's offensive rebound and putback and Jackson's floater off the glass evened the score at 25-25 with three minutes left in the half. Sophomore Ashley Hawkins then converted a three-point play, hitting a fastbreak layup and the subsequent free throw after being fouled, but Central Michigan scored six points in the final 13 seconds, turning a three-point deficit into a three-point halftime lead.
Jackson and Leininger each tossed in a team-high eight points in the first half, but both teams played a ragged first half, as Central Michigan shot 35.1 percent and Miami hit 34.2 percent of its field goal attempts. Miami was particularly cold from behind the arc as it missed all six of its 3-point attempts, but it did commendable work in the paint, scoring 20 of its 28 first-half points in the painted area.
Miami opened the second half on a 6-0 run as Jackson scored the first four points after intermission, but Central Michigan responded with a 6-0 run of its own, regaining its three-point lead at 37-34 and forcing the RedHawks to call a timeout with 17:20 remaining. After falling behind 45-41, Miami put together a 12-2 run bookended by a pair of 3-pointers from Jackson, as the Red and White surged in front, 53-47 with 11 minutes to play. Jackson scored eight of Miami's 12 points in the spurt, while Pyle added a 17-footer and Hawkins hit a pair of free throws.
A basket from Ann Skufca brought Central Michigan to within four points at 53-49, but Jackson continued to carry the RedHawks, scoring seven straight points that included another 3-pointer, this time from the right wing, that pushed Miami's lead to 60-49 with 8:45 remaining. The RedHawks lead grew to as many as 14 points by the seven-minute mark, and they kept their double-digit lead until Central Michgan hit a pair of free throws with 1:45 left in the game, cutting Miami's advantage to 70-62.
The Chippewas made a late run, but the RedHawks converted their free throws down the stretch, hitting 9-of-12 from the charity stripe over the final 1:34 to seal the game.
Miami, which finished the month of January with a 5-3 mark, has six days off before it travels to DeKalb, Ill. to face Northern Illinois on Feb. 3. Tip off is slated for 2 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
