Jan. 23, 2011
Final Stats
DEKALB, Ill. - A late second-half comeback was unable to overcome Northern Illinois' early second-half run as the Miami women's basketball team fell to the Huskies, 71-64, on Sunday afternoon. The RedHawks fall to 10-9 overall and 2-4 in the Mid-American Conference. NIU is 8-11 overall and 2-4 in the MAC.
Miami outshot the Huskies for the game 42 percent (25-for-59) to 40 percent (22-for-55). The difference came in rebounding, with NIU outboarding the RedHawks, 46-29, and in free throws, as Northern Illinois reached the line 32 times, converting on 23 of them. Maggie Boyer led four Miami players in double figures.
The first half started slowly as both teams were feeling each other out. Trailing 4-0, Miami quickly tied the score when Kirsten Olowinski was fouled draining the three. She converted the free throw to finish off the rare four-point play. While Boyer hit a three-pointer, and both Courtney Osborn and Lillian Pitts hit layups, points became hard to come by from the RedHawks as they fell behind 19-11 with 7:52 left in the period.
A jumper by Maggie Boyer would finally get Miami's offense back on track. Erica Almady and Kristin Judson each hit jump shots of their own, while Boyer nailed a three-pointer to give Miami the lead for the first time at 20-19 with 4:49 remaining. Kelsey Simon hit a layup to make it a three-point advantage before Northern Illinois responded with a 9-2 run to go in front, 28-24. Olowinski closed the half by hitting two free throws to send Miami into the break trailing, 28-26.
Miami was only able to hit 31.3 percent (10-for-32) of its shots during the first half, but held the Huskies to 29 percent shooting (9-for-31). Boyer led the RedHawks with 10 points during the frame.
After NIU opened the second half with a basket, two straight jumpers by Boyer tied the score at 30. The Huskies followed with a 9-0 run that was broken up by a Rachael Hencke basket. NIU then hit two straight three-point baskets to take its largest lead at 45-32 with 14:22 remaining.
A layup from Olowinski sparked a 12-5 run that closed the RedHawks to within six at 50-44. Northern Illinois would eventually extend the lead back to 11 at 61-50 with 5:41 remaining before Miami would make one last run.
A three-pointer from Hencke and jumpers by Osborn and Lillian Pitts made it 61-57 with 4:13 remaining. On the next possession, a three-point attempt by Osborn would just rim out. The Huskies made back-to-back baskets to take a 65-57 advantage. Osborn would answer with a three-pointer and Boyer would hit two free throws to make it 65-62 with 1:31 remaining, but that would be as close as the RedHawks would get. NIU would hit its free throws in the final minute to close out the 71-64 win.
Olowinski finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Hencke and Osborn had 11 points each. Freeman led Northern Illinois with 28 points. The RedHawks had a season-low nine turnovers for the game.
Miami is next action on Wednesday when it travels to Ball State for a 7 p.m. contest.
