March 15, 2008
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CLEVELAND - Miami University's women's basketball team earned its first trip to the NCAA Tournament with a 67-56 win over Ohio University in the Kraft in Mid-American Conference Championship game at Quicken Loans Arena Saturday afternoon. Miami (23-10; 12-4 MAC) outscored Ohio (20-13; 10-6 MAC) 26-12 in the paint 21-9 in points off turnovers.
Both teams got off to a sluggish start, but a lay-up by junior guard Ashley Hawkins gave Miami a 6-4 lead at the first media timeout. An Ohio three-pointer by Lauren Kohn put the Bobcats ahead, 7-6, and Ohio kept its lead until a bucket by sophomore guard Courtney Reed and a lay-up by senior guard Amanda Jackson put Miami ahead, 19-17, with 6:45 on the clock. A free throw by junior center Stephanie Ford and a three-pointer by junior guard Jenna Schone extended Miami's lead to five points, 22-17, at the six-minute mark. Ohio battled back to tie the game at 27-27, but a three-pointer by Schone with seven seconds left in the half sent Miami into the locker room with a 30-27 lead.
Jackson led Miami with 10 points at the break, while Kohn also had 10 points to lead the Bobcats.
The RedHawks were unable to extend its lead past five points in the opening stages of the second half and the Bobcats eventually tied the game at 41-41, with 11:50 remaining. Over the next 4:01, Miami went on an 11-0 run, led by five points from Ford, to extend its lead to 52-41, with 7:00 on the clock. Ohio closed within six points at the 6:09 mark, but that was as close as the Bobcats got as the RedHawks hit their free throws down the stretch and cruised to its first ever MAC Championship Tournament win, 67-56.
Jackson and Schone led the RedHawks with 19 points apiece, while Ford notched a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Senior forward Laura Markwood also grabbed 11 rebounds for Miami. Jackson and Schone were named to the MAC All-Tournament Team and Jackson also was named MAC Tournament MVP, becoming the first Miami player to earn the award.
The RedHawks play in the NCAA Tournament, which begins March 22-25 at designated regional sites. Miami finds out their opponent and site at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 17 when the bracket is announced at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
NCAA First and Second Round sites include Albuquerque, N.M.; Baton Rouge, La.; Des Moines, Iowa; Stanford, Calif.; Bridgeport, Conn.; College Park, Md.; Norforlk, Va.; and West Lafayette, Ind.
NCAA Women's Tournament play tips off on either March 22 or March 23 depending on the site of competition.
Selection Show plans and ticket information will be posted as soon as it is available.
