Miami Ohio University Athletics
MIAMI MONDAY
11/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | General
Nov. 29, 2010
OXFORD, Ohio -- One of the busiest times of the year for Miami Athletics just got busier. And it came in the most exciting fashion.
Of course, we are talking about the football team, which started the week with a 23-3 pasting of Temple and ended with a trip to the Marathon MAC Championship. The exciting times started on Tuesday night, when a national television audience visted Yager Stadium and saw the RedHawks demolish the Temple Owls. Thomas Merriweather rushed for a career-high 182 yards and a touchdown in the victory. Evan Harris picked off two passes and the overall defense recorded a season-high seven sacks. (RECAP) (PHOTO GALLERY)
With a share of the MAC East Division championship in hand, the RedHawks then had to hope for an Ohio loss at Kent State on Friday to secure the outright title and a trip to Detroit. The Golden Flashes provided a helping hand, sending the Bobcats to a 28-6 defeat. Tickets are now on sale for the game (RELEASE) with plenty of festivities planned for the Motor City. (RELEASE) (MAC CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION PAGE)
The fifth-ranked hockey team (9-4-3, 7-3-2-1 CCHA) earned a weekend split, losing Friday but rebounding Saturday at No. 19 Western Michigan. In the opener, Miami rallied for a 2-2 tie early in the third period, but allowed three goals over the final seven minutes in a 5-2 setback. (RECAP) The next night, the RedHawks again fell behind early, but tallied five unanswered goals for a 5-1 victory. (RECAP)
After back-to-back weekends on the road, Miami returns to Goggin Ice Center to close out the pre-Christmas portion of its schedule. The RedHawks welcome Notre Dame to Oxford for a key CCHA series.
The men's basketball team dropped a pair of games to nationally-ranked teams, but Head Coach Charlie Coles felt Friday's outing was one of the better efforts of the season. On Monday, the RedHawks hosted No. 18 San Diego State in the final game of the CBE Classic and fell 77-56. Miami mounted a 12-point comeback to tie the game at 39-39 with 17:48 to go, but the Aztecs used a late 25-0 run to secure the win. Nick Winbush led the way for the third straight game with 12 points and six rebounds, earning all-tournament honors. (RECAP)
Miami traveled to Columbus to face third-ranked Ohio State on Friday and trailed by only five points after intermission, but lost 66-45. Orlando Williams led Miami with 13 points, while Julian Mavunga added 11. Antonio Ballard grabbed a season-best 12 rebounds, one off his career high. (RECAP)
The schedule doesn't any easier this week as Miami hosts Xavier on Wednesday before traveling to Dayton on Saturday.
The women's basketball team (2-3) hosted a pair of contests during the week, falling to Duquesne on Wednesday before topping Stetson on Saturday. The Dukes took control from the start, tallying the first 12 points of the game. After Miami closed to within three on two occasions, the last at 22-19, Duquesne closed the half on a 25-8 run to lead 47-27 at intermission. The Robertson twins -- Hannah and Haley -- each recorded season high with 13 and 10 points, respectively, while Rachael Hencke added 11 points. (RECAP)
The tables were turned on Saturday as the RedHawks jumped out to a 47-22 first-half lead and turned away a Stetson run in the second half for a 77-60 win. Miami hit seven of 10 three-pointers in the opening period, connecting on 50 overall. On the other end of the floor, the Red and White held Stetson to just 26.1 percent field goal shooting. Four RedHawks scored in double-figures, led by sophomore Courtney Osborn's 17 points. Sophomore Kirsten Olowinski grabbed 14 rebounds, including 10 in teh first half. (RECAP)
Miami is back in action Wednesday, Dec. 1 at Wright State before returning home to face Marshall on Monday, Dec. 6.
Senior Rachel Patterson came six places and three seconds short of earning All-America status but still finished in the top 20 percent of the field as she claimed 46th place at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship last Monday.
Patterson (Rochester, Mich.), who was the first RedHawk to compete in the NCAA Championship since Laura Neufarth in 2007, clocked in at 20:56.7. Her 46th-place finish was the best by a RedHawk at the national meet since Andrea Kremer was named an All-American after finishing 25th in 2001. The top 40 finishers at the NCAA Championship garner All-America honors. (RECAP)
It's a big week for several other Miami teams. The men's and women's swimming and diving programs return to action this week by hosting the Miami Invitational. Action at the Rec Center begins with an evening session Thursday night (6 p.m.) and continues with dual sessions (9 a.m. and 6 p.m.) on Friday and Saturday.
Two sports teams begin their seasons this weekend as well. Women's Indoor Track competes at the Findlay Oiler Opener Friday and Saturday, while all three synchronized skating teams compete at the Dr. Porter Classic in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Saturday and Sunday.
