CHICAGO – The Miami University women's basketball team (0-1) fell at No. 18 DePaul by a 98-79 margin in the first round of the preseason WNIT on Friday.

Savannah Kluesner led the RedHawks' scoring with 21 points, shooting 8-of-14 from the floor. Freshman Peyton Scott recorded 15 points and seven rebounds in her first collegiate start. Kelly McLaughlin led Miami with 10 boards. Kennedy Taylor also scored in double figures with 11 points.

Scott opened the game's scoring with a three-pointer but three-straight DePaul baskets gave the Blue Demons a lead they would not relinquish. Kluesner brought the RedHawks within one at the three-minute mark before six-straight points from DePaul made it a 12-5 ball game.

Taylor and McLaughlin each made a pair of baskets before the end of the first quarter as the Blue Demons opened up a 28-13 lead after 10 minutes of play.

DePaul began the second quarter on a 16-1 run before Kluesner made three-straight shot attempts midway through the quarter. Miami ended the first half on a 9-2 run to trail 51-29 at halftime.

Scott also opened the second half's scoring with a bucket but DePaul answered with three-straight before Vannessa Garrelts sunk a three-point shot and a layup back-to-back. Bree Paulson and Kenzie Schmitz each got onto the scoreboard in the third quarter while Scott reached double figures. Miami trailed 81-50 with 10 minutes to play.

Paulson hit two shots from long range in the fourth quarter as she totaled a trio of three-pointers on the day. Miami scored six-straight points midway through the final quarter and ended the game on a 16-6 run.

Four returning RedHawks tallied career-highs in the game as Taylor scored 11 points, McLaughlin had eight, Schmitz totaled seven and Garrelts ended with five. McLaughlin also recorded a career-high 10 rebounds.

The full bracket for the preseason WNIT will be released on Sunday, following the completion of all first-round games.