OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University women's basketball team (8-6, 1-1 MAC) came back from a 14-point deficit against Northern Illinois in the second half to win by a 66-64 margin on Wednesday inside a Millett Hall.
Monique Esbrand had the steal and game-winning basket with just 1.8 seconds remaining after tying the game with a three-pointer one minute earlier.
Esbrand had 13 points as one of four RedHawks to reach double figures against the Huskies.
Savannah Kluesner led the offense with 19 points while
Lauren Dickerson and
Peyton Scott each contributed 11.
The Huskies began the game with the 5-2 edge before the RedHawks went on a 7-0 run to take a 9-5 lead after three minutes of play.
NIU responded with the next 10 points to flip the script to a 15-9 game with 4:20 to play in the opening quarter. A basket from Dickerson and a three-pointer from
Bree Paulson brought Miami back within one with three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
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After back-to-back baskets from the Huskies, Kluesner and Dickerson cut NIU's lead to two after 10 minutes of play as the RedHawks ended the first quarter down 20-18.
Northern Illinois outscored Miami 9-2 during the first seven minutes of the second quarter to extend its lead to 29-20.
Peyton Scott ended the RedHawks' scoring drought with a steal and fast-break basket.
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The Huskies made four free throws in the final two minutes of the half to take a 33-26 lead into the locker room. The RedHawks did not make it to the charity stripe during the first half of play.
Following the opening basket from NIU, Miami scored six-straight points to cut the Huskies' lead to three. The run was capped by a three-point play by Kluesner.
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Northern Illinois scored the next five points to extend its lead back up to eight points at the 6:19 media timeout. The Huskies had their largest lead of the game (48-34) with 3:29 remaining in the third quarter.
Miami went on a 10-1 run to finish the third quarter and cut NIU's lead to five entering the fourth. A three-pointer from
Monique Esbrand capped the RedHawks' scoring in the third quarter.
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The RedHawks started the fourth quarter with a three-pointer from
Abbey Hoff and a three-point from Kluesner capped the 8-4 Miami run and cut the NIU lead down to three with 6:43 to play.
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The Huskies scored the next five to push the margin to seven points with 5:16 remaining before the RedHawks put together a 7-2 run to close the gap to two points with just under three minutes to play. NIU had the 64-59 lead with 1:46 remaining.
Scott had a basket to bring Miami within three before Esbrand hit the game-tying three-pointer with 1:06 to play.
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Both teams missed its next shot and Northern Illinois took a timeout with 18 seconds to play as it had possession. The Huskies inbounded and moved the ball as the seconds ticked down but Esbrand broke up a pass at the top of the arc and took it the distance for the game-winning layup with mere seconds on the clock to secure the team's first MAC win of the season.
Miami plays its first road conference game at Central Michigan on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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