Jan. 31, 2018 Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML)
DEKALB, Ill. - The Miami women's basketball team earned its third straight win Wednesday evening with a 77-62 triumph at Northern Illinois. It was a victory by committee as five RedHawks scored in double figures to help sweep the season series over the Huskies.
Savannah Kluesner led the charge with 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting while Kayla Brown finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Leah Purvis collected 14 points and Lauren Dickerson and Kendall McCoy each had 12. Courtney Woods' 17 points paced the Huskies.
The RedHawks (13-8, 5-5 MAC) got the game started with a Kluesner layup and that ensued back-and-forth scoring until MU was able to separate themselves in the later stages of the quarter with back-to-back jumpers from Brown and a three-pointer by McCoy. The Red & White owned a 17-11 advantage after 10 minutes of action.
MU continued to have the hot hand as the second quarter began. The `Hawks garnered the first six points of the frame, capping a 13-0 run that had them in front, 23-11. NIU (10-11, 2-8 MAC) answered back with an 8-0 run before a Kluesner jumper ended the Red & White drought.
After another Huskie bucket, Miami closed the half on a 10-3 run to claim a 35-24 lead as the teams entered the locker room.
NIU started strong in the third, capturing the first five points before a Molly McDonagh layup 2:15 in got the `Hawks on the board. The Huskies were able to draw closer, getting to within six with 4:54 left in the period. Miami stood strong and worked their lead back up to 11 by quarter's end, which saw Dickerson knock down a near half-court shot at the buzzer. The basket had the RedHawks on top of NIU, 58-47.
An 11-4 Huskies run over the first 4:15 of the fourth helped them narrow Miami's margin to just four at 62-58. The RedHawks fired back with a Purvis triple and a Brown jumper, which fwas ollowed by a NIU free throw and another Purvis three.
The sequence quickly built MU's lead back to 11 at 70-59 with 3:05 to play. Following a Huskies free throw, the Red & White sealed the game with a pair of buckets from Dickerson and a Kluesner layup.
Miami finished the night shooting 49 percent from the floor while notching 23 points off of NIU turnovers.
The RedHawks are back on the court Saturday at 1 p.m. as they travel to Bowling Green for their first of two meetings with the Falcons. The game can be seen live on ESPN3.
