MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Miami University women's basketball team (7-7, 1-2 MAC) fell to Central Michigan (10-4, 3-0 MAC) by a 76-70 margin as a sharp-shooting fourth quarter from the Chippewas allowed them to remain undefeated in conference play.
Savannah Kluesner led the Miami squad with 23 points and 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. Also in double figures,
Lauren Dickerson scored 15 points and
Peyton Scott had 12 points.
Central Michigan grabbed an early lead but Kluesner was able to respond each time as she had the RedHawks' first four points. Dickerson tied the game at seven with 7:48 to play with her first three-pointer of the ball game.
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The teams traded points in a hot-shooting first quarter before
Monique Esbrand gave Miami its first lead of the day with a three-pointer. The RedHawks would not relinquish the lead until the final minute of the first half of play.
Dickerson, Kluesner and Scott all made baskets as Miami pushed the tempo and held a 24-20 lead over CMU after 10 minutes of play.
Kluesner continued to make an impact on Miami's game with six points in the second quarter. She became the first RedHawk to reach double figures with 6:15 remaining in the first half.
Dickerson made her second triple of the afternoon with 4:04 to play in the half as Miami had a 37-32 lead.
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That was the final Miami basket of the first half as Micaela Kelly of Central Michigan went on a 10-0 run by herself to close the half. CMU took a 42-37 lead into the locker room.
The RedHawks scored nine unanswered points in the first three minutes of the second half and take a 46-42 lead. It was Dickerson's third three-pointer of the game that tied it up. Central Michigan scored its first points of the half with 6:11 remaining in the third quarter.
Following the 9-0 run by Miami, Central Michigan put together a 14-4 run over five minutes to take a 56-50 lead with 1:19 to play in the third quarter. The RedHawks scored the final four points of the quarter to cut CMU's lead to two points entering the final quarter of play.
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Scott made two free throws to tie the game a minute into the fourth quarter and reach double figures. Central Michigan responded with five-straight points to take a 61-56 lead and force a Miami timeout with eight minutes to play.
The Chippewas shot 66.7 percent in the fourth quarter compared to 31.3 percent by the RedHawks. CMU led by as many as 15 with 2:16 to play. Miami scored the final nine points of the game to cap scoring at 70-76.
The RedHawks are on the road again on Wednesday as they face Eastern Michigan. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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