Dec. 5, 2009
Final Stats
INDIANAPOLIS - The Miami University women's basketball team was unable to complete the late comeback on the road Saturday afternoon and fell to Butler, 68-60. Courtney Osborn led Miami with 22 points, including five three-point baskets. The RedHawks fall to 1-6 on the year, while the Bulldogs improve to 4-3.
It started out real well for Miami, as Ashleigh Brown, Maggie Boyer and Rachael Hencke each hit buckets to give the RedHawks a 6-0 lead. After a Butler three-pointer, two more layups by Hencke and a three-pointer from Osborn put Miami in front 13-3. The Bulldogs responded with another three-pointer, but Hencke hit one of her own as the RedHawks led 16-6 with 14:25 remaining.
From there, Miami's shot went cold as Butler was able to go on a 24-3 run over the next 9:47 to take a 30-19 advantage with 3:38 left in the half. A jumper by Courtney Reed broke up the run and the teams played even from there, with the Bulldogs going to locker room up 34-24.
Butler scored the first four points of the second half to take its biggest lead at 38-24. That was followed by an 8-0 run from Miami keyed by a three-pointer by Boyer, a layup by Brown and a three-pointer from Osborn to cut the advantage to 38-32 with 15:01 remaining. The lead would remain around six to eight points as Butler hit several free throws to hang onto the advantage.
The key play of the game came at the 4:16 mark. Reed had hit two free throws to cut the Bulldog lead to six at 60-54. On the next possession, the Miami defense was strong keeping Butler from getting off a shot attempt for 29 seconds. With one second remaining on the shot clock, Alyssa Pittman put in a desperation three-pointer from 23-feet with a hand in her face to put the Bulldogs up nine. Miami would get as close as six off another Osborn three-pointer, but Butler hit its free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
In addition to Osborn's 22 points, Hencke finished with 11, while Boyer recorded 10 points and seven assists. Butler hit 27-for-39 from the free throw line, while the RedHawks were 11-for-17. The Bulldogs were led by Brittany Bowen with 18 points.
Miami returns to Millett Hall on Wednesday for the second annual "Class at the Court" game at 1 p.m. The opponent will be the Wright State Raiders and over 1,800 students from Kramer, Bogan and Marshall Elementary schools will be in attendance.
