Miami University
Old Dominion
Miami Falls to Old Dominion, 69-63, in Vegas
12/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LAS VEGAS – The Miami University women’s basketball team battled tough against a talented and physical Old Dominion team, but the Lady Monarchs ultimately held on to take a 69-63 victory in the opening game of the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic Saturday evening in Las Vegas. The RedHawks fall to 2-6 on the season, while ODU improves to 6-3.
Several players contributed to a balanced offensive effort for Miami, led by junior forward Jessica Rupright. She just missed on a double-double, finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds. Junior forward Hannah McCue was also just short of a double-double, scoring nine points and bringing in 12 rebounds. Freshman guards Kayla Brown and Ana Richter each finished in double figures, scoring 10 points apiece.
Defensively, the RedHawks settled down after Old Dominion started out hot. Miami held the Lady Monarchs to a 34.2 percent shooting (25-for-73) for the game. After ODU hit four early three-pointers in the first 10 minutes of the contest, the Red and White held them to only three from behind the arc the rest of the contest, allowing Miami to get back into the game.
Rupright scored the first eight points for the ‘Hawks on three layups and a pair of free throws. However the Lady Monarchs were shooting lights out early on and built a 12-8 lead. Back-to-back baskets from Richter and freshman forward Molly McDonagh tied the score at 12, but a 9-0 run from Old Dominion gave it a 21-12 lead with 11:31 left in the half.
With the Lady Monarchs up by 11, a three-pointer from Brown started a RedHawk comeback. A jumper by senior point guard Courtney Larson and a pair of free throws from Rupright pulled Miami to within six at 31-25 at the 6:45 mark. Old Dominion pushed the advantage back to 10, but a three-pointer from freshman guard Jazz Smith sparked a 7-1 run to cut Miami’s deficit to only 36-32 at the half.
The RedHawks shot 44.1 percent (11-for-25) for the half, while holding the Lady Monarchs to a 34.1 percent (14-for-41) shooting percentage. Rupright led Miami with 10 points.
The teams traded baskets early in the second half. A three-pointer and layup from Brown helped pull the ‘Hawks to within three at 49-46 with 12:40 to go. Old Dominion pushed the lead back to seven, but Richter answered with a layup despite being hit on the arm. She drained her free throw to complete the old fashioned three-point play and make it 53-49 with 9:11 left in the contest.
The Lady Monarchs went on an 11-4 run to make it 64-55 with 5:10 remaining. Richter had another three-point play, but ODU eventually pushed the lead back to 10. A three-pointer from McCue followed by a layup from Rupright made it 68-63 with 53 seconds to go, but Miami was unable to score again as Old Dominion came away with the 69-63 victory.
The RedHawks finished the game shooting 38.7 percent (24-for-62). They were a perfect 10-for-10 from the line. Larson had a solid game managing the point, finishing with seven points, six assists and two steals. Old Dominion had a slight 47-45 rebounding advantage, and was led by Jennie Simms with 19 points.
Miami completes play at the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic when it takes on 20th-ranked Mississippi State on Sunday at 7 p.m. (EST).
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