Miami University
UT Martin
Miami Falls to UT Martin, 73-47
12/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MARTIN, Tenn. -- The Miami University women's basketball team could not overcome a tough shooting night, while the University of Tennessee at Martin hit 13 three-pointers en route to a 74-47 victory Tuesday evening. The RedHawks fall to 5-3 on the season, while the Skyhawks improve to 6-4.
Sophomore guard Baleigh Reid led the Miami offense with 16 points, finishing 5-for-11 from the field. She also had three assists, three rebounds and an assist in 30 minutes of action.
UT Martin hit 13 three-point baskets on 38 attempts to help achieve the difference on Tuesday. The Red and White's defense clamped down in the second half by holding the Skyhawks to only four 3-point makes, but they were unable to make a significant dent into the deficit.
Miami was hitting its shots early on as layups from freshman forward Kristen Levering and Reid, along with a three-pointer from freshman point guard Leah Purvis put the RedHawks in front, 7-5. A three-pointer from Levering gave Miami its largest lead at 10-5 at the 7:33 mark of the first quarter. UTM fought back to pull within one before sophomore guard Ana Richter hit a jumper with 5:20 to go in the period to give the Red and White a 14-11 lead.
UT Martin began to its three-pointers as the first quarter came to a close. The Skyhawks used the triple to finish the period on a 14-1 run and take a 25-15 lead.
Reid hit a jumper early in the second quarter, while freshman guard Kendall McCoy drained a three-pointer, but Miami's offense remained cold throughout the frame. UTM took advantage with a 20-5 run to push the advantage to 25 at 45-20 with 1:11 to go. Reid hit a couple of free throws, but the Skyhawks held a 50-22 lead at the break.
Miami shot 30.8 percent (8-for-26) during the period. UT Martin countered by hitting 50.0 percent (15-for-30) of its shots, including going 9-for-21 (42.9 percent) from behind the arc. Reid and Levering led the RedHawks with seven points apiece.
After the Skyhawks pushed the advantage to 60-23 to begin the third quarter, Miami's defense clamped down, allowing only 14 more points over the final 15 minutes of the game. Richter and Reid hit back-to-back jumpers, while Richter followed with a three-pointer. Two free throws by senior forward Tamira Ford and jumper by Richter concluded an 11-0 run by Miami and made the score 60-34. UT Martin scored the final five points to take a 65-34 lead into the fourth quarter.
Reid scored seven points in the fourth quarter as the RedHawks held the Skyhawks to only nine points in the final stanza. Miami cut the deficit down to 24 points, but the lead was too large as UT Martin took a 73-47 win.
Richter finished with nine points, while Levering scored seven. The Skyhawks won the rebounding battle, 43-34, and were led by Haley Howard with 14 points.
Miami returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Michigan for a 2:30 p.m. tip.
