Miami University
Florida Atlantic
RedHawks Drop Overtime Heartbreaker to FAU in Championship Game
12/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Box Score | Box Score (PDF) 
| Coach Wright Postgame
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The Miami University women's basketball team overcame a 11-point fourth quarter deficit to force overtime, but FAU used a late 7-0 run in the extra session to capture a 68-65 win in the championship game of the Florida Atlantic University Holiday Tournament on Wednesday. The RedHawks complete non-conference play at 6-5, while the Owls improve to 8-3.
Sophomore guard Baleigh Reid led the way with 19 points, hitting several key shots during the comeback run, including two completing two 3-point plays in the fourth quarter. She was 6-for-13 from the field and totaled 36 points in two games, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Sophomore forward Molly McDonagh played a key role defensively in earning her second double-double of the season. She finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds, and also contributed two assists and three steals in 38 minutes of action.
Buckets from Reid and McDonagh got the RedHawks off to a good start to begin the contest. After FAU fought back to take the lead, a three-pointer from freshman forward Kristen Levering made it 7-6 in favor of Miami with 5:07 to go. A triple from freshman guard Kendall McCoy gave the `Hawks their largest lead of the period at 12-8 at the 3:33 mark. The Owls got hot to close the quarter, finishing on a 10-0 run to take an 18-12 lead at the end of the first.
The second quarter was a defensive battle as neither team was able to get on an extended scoring streak. A basket by sophomore guard Kayla Brown got Miami on the board, while a layup from Reid cut the deficit to three at 21-18 with 4:43 remaining. FAU was able to push the advantage to nine at 29-20, but a jumper from Brown at the bottom sent the RedHawks into the break trailing, 29-22.
Reid led Miami with nine points in the first half. The Red and White held the Owls to 34.3 percent (12-for-35) shooting, including 21.1 percent (4-for-19) from behind the arc. However, Miami was only able to hit 34.8 percent (8-for-23) of its shots.
FAU scored a layup to open the third quarter and take a 31-22 lead. A jumper from McDonagh followed by a steal from Reid and a three-pointer from Levering sparked a 9-0 run by the RedHawks that tied the score at 31 with 5:35 left in the period. The Owls went in front, but another trey from McCoy tied the score at 36. Tie at 38 with 2:19 to go, FAU went on a 10-1 run to again take control at 48-39. Sophomore guard Ana Richter drained a pair of free throws to send Miami into the final quarter trailing 48-41.
It took the RedHawks offense over four minutes to score its first points of the final quarter. During that time, the Owls scored three to take a 51-41 advantage with 6:03 remaining. Reid drove to the basket and drained the shot to begin the Miami comeback. She was fouled and converted the free throw to close the `Hawks to within seven. FAU scored the next four points in a row to take a 55-44 lead with 4:49 to go.
Another old-fashioned three-point play by Reid pulled the `Hawks to within eight. After a turnover, sophomore guard Jazz Smith nailed a triple to make it 55-50 with 4:11 to go. Trailing 57-51, a layup from McDonagh closed the deficit to four at the 1:37 mark. Smith was fouled on the Red and White's next possession to make it a two point game. Levering recorded a block on FAU's next possession, and then drained a three-pointer to give Miami its first lead since the first quarter at 58-57 with 22 seconds remaining. The Owls drained two free throws to regain the advantage, but Reid was fouled on the RedHawks next possession with 10.2 seconds remaining. She hit one-of-two to tie the score at 59. Miami played strong defense over the final 10 seconds, now allowing FAU to get off a final shot as the contest went to overtime.
McDonagh drained the opening bucket of overtime, while free throws from sophomore forward Megan Galloway and Reid gave Miami a 63-61 lead with 1:57 to go. A pair of free throws, followed by a steal and a layup from the Owls senior guard Ali Gorrell turned the momentum in favor of FAU as it regained the advantage. It went on a 7-0 run to put the game out of reach late. Brown hit a layup at the buzzer, but the RedHawks ultimately fell, 68-65.
For the game Miami shot 35.6 percent (21-for-59), including 6-for-14 (42.9 percent) from behind the arc. The `Hawks held FAU to 35.3 percent (24-for-68) shooting, including 24.1 percent (7-for-29) from three-point range. Going into the contest, the Owls ranked 10th in the country in three-point shooting.
Levering nearly had a double-double for the RedHawks with nine points and eight rebounds. Brown had seven points, five assists, a block and a steal in 32 minutes. Galloway had five points and six rebounds, including a team-high three offensive. FAU held a slight, 45-44, advantage in rebounding, and was led by Gorrell with 15 points.
Miami begins Mid-American Conference play on Saturday when it hosts Bowling Green for a 1 p.m. contest. The game will air live on ESPN3 and is part of a Miami tripleheader that will see the men's basketball team take on South Carolina State at 3:30 p.m. and the hockey team face RPI in Steve Cady Arena at 7:05 p.m.
