OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University women's basketball team (8-9, 1-4 MAC) fell in the final seconds to Kent State by a 78-75 margin inside Millett Hall on Saturday. The RedHawks held a 75-74 lead with eight seconds to play after a drive and layup from
Lauren Dickerson.
Dickerson led the Miami offense with 18 points while
Savannah Kluesner and
Abbey Hoff each chipped in 11 points. Hoff led the RedHawks with six rebounds.
Kent State struck first but Miami responded. Two free throws from Dickerson gave Miami its first lead of the game, 6-5, with 6:49 to play in the first quarter. The Golden Flashes would take the lead right back with a 7-0 run as they doubled up the RedHawks, 12-6.
Miami came within one of Kent State with a three-pointer from
Bree Paulson, the RedHawks' first of the game.
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The Golden Flashes continued to be hot from three-point range, going 4-of-5 in the opening quarter to take a 24-18 lead after 10 minutes of play.
The teams traded baskets through most of the second quarter with neither team making back-to-back baskets until Kent State did so midway through the quarter to take a double-digit lead with 5:37 to play in the first half.
Miami made two three-pointers in a row with under two minutes remaining in the half to cut Kent State's lead to 42-36.
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Kent State made a half-court shot to take a 45-36 advantage into the locker room after shooting 57.6 percent from the field and 75 percent from long range during the first half.
The RedHawks had a two-point advantage in the third quarter to close the gap to seven points after 30 minutes of play as the margin was 59-52. The Golden Flashes led by as many as 13 in the third quarter before a 6-0 run by Miami cut KSU's lead to 53-46 with three minutes remaining in the quarter.
The teams once again went back and forth to end the quarter as Dickerson was the first Miami player to reach double figures with a drive to the basket as time ran out.
Kent State began the final quarter with a 7-2 run to increase the spread to 12 points with 7:17 remaining in the ball game. Dickerson and
Kenzie Schmitz sunk back-to-back three-pointer midway through the fourth quarter to cut Kent State's lead to 71-64 with 4:36 to play.
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KSU held a 74-67 lead with three minutes to play. Dickerson and
Abbey Hoff each hit a three-pointer before Dickerson drove to the basket with a layup to give the RedHawks their first lead since the first quarter.
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A turnover with 17 seconds remaining gave possession to KSU after an official review. Kent State made both free throws with less than eight seconds on the game clock after being fouled on the shot to regain the lead. The Golden Flashes defense came up with a steal on the RedHawks' final possession of the day and sunk a layup with just a second remaining to seal the victory.
The RedHawks are on the road for the next two games, beginning on Wednesday at Akron. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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