Dec. 17, 2011
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
OXFORD, Ohio--Behind a double-double by junior forward Kirsten Olowinski and a 23-point effort from junior guard Courtney Osborn, Miami University's women's basketball team (7-3) erased an 11-point first-half deficit to clip Cincinnati (6-4), 74-69, on Saturday afternoon at Millett Hall.
It was the 26th career 20-point scoring effort for Osborn and Olowinski's 21st career double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Senior forward Lillian Pitts amassed a career-high 13 rebounds. The win marked the third straight game where Miami has evaporated a halftime deficit to capture a win. The RedHawks have won four of their last five games and are 6-0 at home this season.
Miami used a 6-0 run to take an early 6-3 lead over the Bearcats. Cincinnati came back to lead by as many as six early on. After Miami closed within four of the Bearcats off a senior guard Rachael Hencke jumper with 11:32 remaining, 16-12, UC rattled off seven unanswered points to capture a double-digit advantage, 23-12. A pair of senior guard Maggie Boyer free throws with 6:15 to play in the first halted the Bearcat surge.
A bucket with 1:09 to play and a pair of free throws with two seconds remaining by Hencke put the RedHawks within seven going into halftime, 32-25.
Cincinnati was able to extend its lead to eight points in the second half, 37-29, with 18:15 remaining. The RedHawks caught fire, using an 11-0 flurry to take a 40-37 lead with 13:11 to play. It was Miami's first lead since the 16:04 mark of the first half. Osborn tallied five points, Pitts accounted for four points during the surge.
After the Bearcats knotted the score on at 40 on the next possession, Miami belted out another scoring rally, pouring in nine unanswered points to seize a 49-40 lead by the 10:51 mark.
The Bearcats came back with an 11-2 run to again tie the game, 51-51, with 8:32 remaining and a back-and-forth battle ensued.
Miami built a five-point lead, 60-55, with 5:49 to play and led by five, 62-57, with 5:09 left, but Cincinnati came back to take a two-point lead with 4:04 left, 64-62.
Osborn sunk a pair of free throws with 2:57 remaining to tie the game, 64-64, and an Olowinski layup with 2:19 left put the RedHawks up for good as they went on to the five-point triumph.
The Bearcats had four players score in double figures and were led by Bjonee Reaves' 25 points.
Miami had a superb second half from the field, nailing 51.9 percent of its field goals and shot 90.3 percent from the free-throw line for the game. The RedHawks posted a huge advantage on the boards, outrebounding the Bearcats, 44-29.
The RedHawks have little rest, returning to action against Northeastern at home at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19.
