YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Miami University women’s basketball team had a solid defensive effort, but struggled offensively as Eastern Michigan took a 56-38 victory on Wednesday evening in Ypsilanti. The RedHawks fall to 3-14 overall and 0-6 in the Mid-American Conference. The Eagles improve to 9-7 overall and 2-3 in the MAC.

Freshman guard Kayla Brown opened the game with a jumper and followed with a three-pointer to give Miami an early 5-0 lead. The RedHawks’ shot went cold over the next 10 minutes as they were able to only manage one point off a free throw from junior forward Jessica Rupright. EMU scored 17 points during that stretch to take an 11-point lead. Freshman guard Jazz Smith ended the scoreless drought with a three-pointer that made it 17-9 with 8:07 to go.

The Eagles pushed the advantage to 12 at 21-9 before a layup from junior forward Hannah McCue got the Miami offense going again. The RedHawks hit three more free throws to close within seven before a buzzer beating three-pointer by Eastern Michigan’s Phillis Webb sent the Eagles into the break leading, 24-14.

After EMU scored first to begin the second half, back-to-back jumpers from Brown and freshman guard Baleigh Reid cut the deficit to eight at 26-18 with 18:27 to go. Miami had another scoring drought at that point as the Eagles went on a 13-0 run over the next nine and a half minutes to take a 39-18 lead with 8:55 remaining.

Brown recorded a couple buckets to end the Eagle run. A jumper from Reid and a three-pointer by Smith made it 43-27 with 4:17 to go. Despite another triple late from Smith that was as close as the ‘Hawks could get as EMU came away with a 56-38 win.

Brown led Miami with 11 points, while Smith finished with a career-high nine. The RedHawks outrebounded the Eagles, 43-31, but were done in by an 11-for-47 (23.4 percent) performance from the field. Eastern Michigan was led by Cha Sweeney with 12 points.

Miami returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Bowling Green for a 2 p.m. matinee.