Miami University
Michigan State
No. 16 Michigan State Drops Miami, 85-39
11/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Miami University women’s basketball team ran into a hot-shooting Michigan State team on Sunday and the 16th-ranked Spartans came away with an 85-39 win in East Lansing. The RedHawks fall to 1-3 on the season, while MSU improves to 4-1.
Freshman guard Baleigh Reid led Miami with 10 points, the fourth consecutive game to start her career that she finished in double figures. Freshman guards Kayla Brown and Ana Richter each scored nine for the RedHawks.
A slow offensive start by Miami allowed Michigan State to jump to a 10-1 lead in the first four minutes of the contest. A layup from Brown gave the RedHawks their first basket. Reid hit a layup and Richter drained a three-pointer, but the Spartans increased their advantage to 25-11 with 8:11 left in the half.
Miami played strong defense, at one point forcing Michigan State into turnovers on five straight possessions. However the RedHawks were unable to take advantage on the offensive end as the Spartan defense held tough. For the half, Miami forced 13 MSU turnovers, but only scored five points off of them.
A 9-2 run by the Spartans put them in control at 34-13 with 3:32 remaining in the half. A layup by Brown ended the run, while a layup from freshman forward Molly McDonagh sent the ‘Hawks into the break trailing, 41-19.
Michigan State opened up the second half on a 14-4 run to open up a 57-23 lead with 11:12 remaining. Freshman guard Jazz Smith and junior forward Jessica Rupright hit layups to end the run, while redshirt sophomore forward Tamira Ford scored four points late, but Miami was unable to get any closer as the Spartans went on to take an 85-39 win.
For the game the RedHawks shot 23.9 percent (12-for-48), while the Spartans shot 53.0 percent (35-for-66). Michigan State held a 49-28 advantage on the boards, and were led by Anna Morrissey with 17 points.
Miami returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts Valparaiso at noon for the second annual “Lunch at Millett” contest. Tim Bray has the call and it can seen live on Miami All-Access for those who have a subscription.
