OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University women's basketball team (7-6, 0-1 MAC) opened conference play with an 86-72 loss against Buffalo inside Millett Hall on Saturday.
Lauren Dickerson led Miami's scoring efforts with 32 points as she broke the record for the most field goals made in program history. She now has 689 made baskets during her Miami career.
Savannah Kluesner and
Peyton Scott also reached double figures with 14 and 10 points, respectively. Kluesner recorded her seventh double-double of the season as she added 10 rebounds.
Abbey Hoff began the game with a three-pointer for the first points for either side.
Miami led 7-5 before three-straight baskets by Buffalo put the Bulls up 11-7 with 5:35 to play in the opening quarter. The RedHawks came within two before an 8-0 run for Buffalo increased the 'Hawks' deficit to 10 points with 2:30 remaining in the first quarter.
The Bulls scored the last six points of the quarter to increase their lead to 27-13 after 10 minutes of play.
The second quarter was streaky, with each team putting together its own runs and responding to the other's. After the initial basket from the Bulls, the RedHawks scored back-to-back baskets including a steal and score from Dickerson.
Buffalo scored seven-straight points to increase its lead to 36-17 but Miami responded with seven unanswered points of its own to close the gap to 36-24 with two minutes to play in the first half. The Bulls ended the half on a 5-2 run, as the RedHawks were down 41-26 going into the locker room.
The teams continued to go back and forth in the third quarter with Buffalo having the 22-20 edge. The RedHawks began the second half with a 6-2 run, including two baskets from
Peyton Scott.
Dickerson responded to Buffalo's five points with five of her own, including a three-pointer, as Miami trailed by 11 points midway through the third quarter.
The RedHawks trailed 63-46 after 30 minutes of play.
Kluesner made her first two shots to start the fourth quarter and reach double figures for the 11
th time this season. Dickerson made three shots from long range in 1:14 in the middle of the quarter to break the record for career field goals made, passing Amanda Jackson ('08).
Dickerson continued to fuel Miami's fourth-quarter push with two more three-pointers and a three-point play as she scored 18 points during the final quarter of play but the RedHawks' comeback ultimately fell short as the Bulls capped scoring at 86-72.
The RedHawks conclude their four-game home stand on Wednesday as Miami hosts Northern Illinois at 7 p.m.
