Miami University
Miami (Fla.)
Hurricanes Use Second-Half Runs to Top RedHawks
11/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2010
MIAMI, Fla. -- Miami (Fla.) used a 24-4 run around halftime to break open a close game and cruise to a 96-64 victory over Miami (Ohio) in the second-ever meeting between the two universities with the same name.
Courtney Osborn led the RedHawks (1-2) with 13 points, while Kirsten Olowinski grabbed 12 rebounds. Shenise Johnson, a pre-season All-America candidate, posted a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds, while adding five steals. Four other Hurricanes reached double figures.
Miami (Ohio) trailed 32-30 with 4:20 left in the first half after Hanna Robertson canned a three-pointer from the left side. But Miami (Fla.) scored six straight points in the next 1:05 enroute to a 40-32 lead at intermission.
The Hurricanes (2-1) started the second half on a 5-0 run, then answered a basket by Robertson with 11 straight points for a 56-34 advantage. The lead reached its biggest point at 24, 60-36, on a four-point play by Riquna Williams.
"Going into the second half, they just sucker-punched us," Head Coach Maria Fantanarosa said. "They came right at us, going to the hoop, getting offensive rebounds. We showed we are a good team for 20-30 minutes, but we aren't at the level of this ACC team. My disappointment was that some of our players stopped playing, having that 'deer-in-the-headlights' look.
Neither team shot well from the floor early on as he RedHawks hit just 12 of 33 first-half attempts (36.4 percent), while the Hurricanes connected on 14 of 37 tries (37.8 percent). But the shooting changed for Miami (Fla.) after intermission with the Hurricanes climbing to 50 percent. Meanwhile, the RedHawks continued to struggle making just 36.7 percent and committed 13 turnovers in the second half.
Miami returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts Duquesne in afternoon affair. The matinee matchup begins at 2 p.m. at Millett Hall.
