Box Score TOLEDO, Ohio – The Miami University women's basketball team (20-4, 11-2 MAC) beat Toledo (15-9, 7-6 MAC) by a 65-56 margin on Wednesday to earn back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since the 1980's.
Lauren Dickerson tallied her eighth 20-point game of the season, scoring a game-high 28 points. Dickerson also sunk five from behind the arc and had three assists and four steals.
Kendall McCoy was a strong presence at both ends of the court, picking up a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. McCoy also had four assists, three steals and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
Dickerson scored Miami's first seven points in the first three minutes of play as her and Kaayla McIntyre traded baskets. The RedHawks were also strong defensively with
Kendall McCoy getting her second steal of the game less than four minutes in.
With just under four minutes to play in the first quarter, the teams were tied at 12. Miami went on a 10-0 run to lead 22-12 with 1:22 to play in the quarter. The run was capped by a pair of three-pointers from Dickerson to bring her first quarter total to 13 points.
Dickerson had three from behind the arc in the first quarter.
Miami had a 22-16 lead after 10 minutes.
The teams traded a pair of baskets to begin the second quarter before Toledo scored back-to-back baskets to cut Miami's lead to 26-23 with 6:37 to play in the first half.
Kristen Levering started the second quarter with a block.
Kenzie Schmitz got the RedHawks' fourth steal of the game with 3:39 remaining in the first half as Miami had five total steals in the first half.
The Rockets kept the pressure on but the RedHawks were able to hold a lead of at least three points for the remainder of the first half, going into the locker room with a 35-32 advantage.
Toledo opened the second half by tying the game at 35. Purvis took the lead back for Miami with a three-pointer – a lead the RedHawks would not relinquish.
Toledo closed the gap to one-point on two occasions before Miami went on an 11-0 run to take a 52-40 lead with 4:06 to play in the third quarter. The RedHawks run was capped with Dickerson's fifth three-pointer of the evening.
Dickerson continued her impressive showing with a pair of free throws and her third steal of the game before the end of the third quarter.
The RedHawks ended the third quarter with a 56-46 lead.
Savannah Kluesner started the fourth quarter with a layup to give Miami a 58-46 lead before the RedHawks went on a scoring drought. The Rockets scored twice to cut Miami's lead to 58-50 with seven minutes to play before also going on a scoring drought.
The next points were not scored until under the three-minute mark when Toledo had a layup fall. Two free throws by the Rockets cut the RedHawks' lead to 58-54 with 1:58 remaining. Miami made seven free throws in the last 1:31 of the game, including a perfect 4-of-4 by McCoy, to secure the 65-56 victory.
Miami returns home to host Bowling Green on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. as the RedHawks hold their annual Love.Honor.Care game.
