Miami University
Iona
RedHawks Down Gaels 92-77
12/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2011
OXFORD, Ohio-- An explosive 50-point second half by the Miami women's basketball team (4-2) helped seal the deal against Iona College (4-4) Friday afternoon, giving the RedHawks a 92-77 victory. Senior forward Rachael Hencke led Miami in scoring with 17 points, while junior guard Courtney Osborn dished out 12 assists, matching her career high.
After two Iona free throws 16 seconds into the game, sophomore forward Erica Almady laid one in to tie the game at 2-2. Upon scoring Miami's first points of the game, the crowd of over 1,800 elementary school students, participating in the fourth annual "Class at the Court" event, erupted into deafening cheers that gave the RedHawks a clear home court advantage the rest of the game.
The two-point lead the Gaels held 16 seconds into the game would be the only time all afternoon that they held an advantage over Miami.
The RedHawk lead reached a first half-high of eight points with 6:47 remaining after a jumper by sophomore guard Hannah Robertson. Iona clawed its way back to tie the game at 37-37 with 3:14 left in the half, but Miami reclaimed its lead and entered halftime with a 42-41 advantage.
Robertson and Almady each led the RedHawks with 11 first half points, while Iona's Damika Martinez led all scorers with 12 points. Despite shooting over 50 percent from the field in the first half, the Gaels were out-rebounded by Miami by a tune of 22 to 11, giving the RedHawks plenty of second chance opportunities.
Entering the second half, Miami didn't slow down one bit, jumping out to an 11-point lead thanks to a 9-2 run, making the score 54-43 less than four minutes into the half. Iona mounted a small comeback to cut its deficit to 9 points, 59-50, however that would be the last time the Gaels were within 10 points of the RedHawks.
The lead ballooned to a game-high 20 points after a 9-0 Miami run, making the score 90-70 with 1:43 left in the game. The remaining seconds ticked away, and the horn sounded on the RedHawks fourth victory of the season by a final score of 92-77.
Aside from Hencke's team-leading 17 points, Almady, Robertson, senior forward Lillian Pitts and junior forward Kirsten Olowinski all reached double figures in scoring as well. Olowinski also added 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season and 18th of career. Iona's Martinez led all scorers with 19 points.
Miami's next game is Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Duquesne at 11 a.m.
