Miami University
Drexel
Miami Drops Cavalier Opener to Drexel, 71-54
12/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Miami University women’s basketball team made a couple of large runs to try and close a large early deficit, but it was unable to finish the comeback off as Drexel pulled away for a 71-54 victory. The game opened up the Cavalier Classic in Charlottesville, Virginia. The RedHawks fall to 2-8 overall, while the Dragons improve to 6-4.
The loss spoiled a career game for senior point guard Courtney Larson. She helped keep Miami in it by draining five shots from behind the arc for a career-high 15 points. She also tied a career high with seven rebounds.
It was a slow start offensively for Miami as only junior forward Hannah McCue was able to put in a layup while Drexel jumped to a 10-2 lead. The Dragons kept up the strong defense, allowing the RedHawks only four free throws as they pushed the advantage to 21-6 with 7:24 left in the period before MU began to make a run.
Larson sank a three-pointer to get the offense going. That started a 9-0 stretch for the RedHawks as Larson hit one more triple, while freshman guard Baleigh Reid added one of her own to pull Miami to within six at 21-15 with 5:41 left in the half and force the Dragons to call timeout. After the break Drexel readjusted its defense and closed the period on a 10-3 run to take a 31-18 lead into halftime.
McCue drained a couple of layups, while Larson hit another three-pointer to make it 40-28 with 15:24 left in the second half. The Dragons answered with a 7-0 run over the next two minutes to record their largest advantage at 47-28, before the RedHawks began another run.
Back-to-back layups from McCue and Reid started the comeback attempt. A three-pointer from Larson cut the Miami deficit to 12. Freshman guard Kayla Brown hit a layup despite being fouled, and converted the free throw for an old-fashioned three-point play. Larson’s fifth three-pointer of the game made it a 13-0 run and closed the ‘Hawks to within six at 47-41 with 10:29 to go.
Miami’s shot went cold over the next eight minutes as Drexel was able to regain control with a 20-6 run. Redshirt sophomore forward Tamira Ford hit a layup, while Brown drained a pair of shots, but the Dragons were able to finish off a 71-54 victory.
In addition to Larson’s 15 points, McCue recorded 10, while Brown and Reid had eight each. Miami finished the game shooting 39.1 percent (18-for-46), while holding Drexel to a 37.9 percent (22-for-58) shooting percentage. The RedHawks held a 40-30 rebounding advantage over the Dragons, but were hurt by 23 turnovers. Drexel was led by Rachel Pearson, who finished with 25 points.
Miami completes play the Cavalier Classic when it takes on Davidson on Monday at 4:30 p.m. Tim Bray has the call and it can be heard live on Miami All-Access for those who have a subscription.
