Feb. 17, 2011
Final Stats
OXFORD, Ohio - For the second straight night, a Miami basketball team made an impressive comeback against a team from Kent State University. However, the women were unable to complete the comeback, falling, 72-64, Thursday night to the Golden Flashes. The RedHawks drop to 10-15 overall and 2-10 in the Mid-American Conference. Kent State improves to 17-7 overall and 8-4 in the MAC.
Sophomore point guard Courtney Osborn had another impressive performance, scoring 23 points on 9-for-23 shooting. Miami shot 40 percent (22-for-55) as a team for the game, but were done in by a 2-for-23 performance from behind the three-point line.
A slow start for the RedHawks resulted in a 10-2 advantage for the Golden Flashes four minutes into the game. The run was broken up by a three-pointer from Hannah Robertson. Despite four more points from Robertson, Miami continued to struggle from the field early, falling behind 24-11 with 8:22 remaining in the first half. Two free throws from Osborn seemed to spark the RedHawk offense as Miami answered with layups by Lillian Pitts and Osborn to help create a 12-5 run that pulled it to within six at 29-23. The Golden Flashes would respond with a 5-1 run to close out the half and take a 34-24 advantage into the break.
A 11-6 run in the first five minutes of the second half gave Kent State its largest lead at 45-30 and forced a Miami timeout. The RedHawks responded by forcing four turnovers that they turned into layups by Robertson, Maggie Boyer and Erica Almady. A jumper by Osborn would make it 50-44 with 10:01 remaining.
Miami pulled to within two at 50-48 after Robertson and Osborn each had perfect trips to the free throw line. Kent State would once again push the lead back to six at 60-54, but Osborn nailed a triple to make it a one-possession game once again. The Golden Flashes would continue to trade baskets with Osborn, as the sophomore scored 10 points in a row for Miami. Her jumper with 1:28 remaining would pull Miami to within three at 67-64. The RedHawks would force a turnover on the next possession but the layup on the other end would just rim out. Kent State got the rebound and was able to hit five free throws down the stretch to secure the 72-64 win.
In addition to Osborn's 28 points, Robertson tied a career-high with 15 points. Her sister Haley Robertson came off the bench to provide six points and two rebounds in 18 minutes of action. Kirsten Olowinski finished with 12 rebounds and a career-high tying five blocks. The Golden Flashes were led by Ellie Shields with 18 points, and outrebounded Miami, 37-34.
It's a quick turnaround for the RedHawks as they will host Bowling Green on Saturday at 2 p.m. It is the annual "Think Pink" breast cancer awareness game. Fans in attendance are encouraged to visit the McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital and Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority booths on the concourse.
