OXFORD – Savannah Kluesner's career-high 35 points were not enough for the Miami University women's basketball team in a 99-87 loss to Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon. The game was tied at 33 apiece at the half, but CMU (18-4, 11-0 MAC) exploded for 37 points in the third quarter to gather a double-digit lead.
Kluesner's 35 points is eighth-most in school history and sixth-most in Millett Hall history. The last RedHawk to score at least 35 points in a game was
Lauren Dickerson versus Eastern Kentucky (37 points) on Nov. 20, 2019.
Joining Kluesner in double figures were
Abbey Hoff (17 points) and Dickerson (16 points – 14 in the second half).
Peyton Scott added nine points. Kluesner had a team-high seven rebounds, while Dickerson recorded a career-high 12 assists. Dickerson's 12 assists rank fourth-most in Miami history. This was the second double-double of Dickerson's career.
Central Michigan finished the game with 17 made three pointers (on 35 attempts) and were 30-for-57 from the field. Miami was 33-of-70 overall and 7-for-24 from behind the arc.
The game could not have started much better for the Red and White. Miami (11-12, 4-7 MAC) held a 13-2 advantage just 4:28 into the contest as four different RedHawks found the stat sheet, including a triple from
Kenzie Schmitz.
CMU battled back to close the gap to 15-12 late in the opening quarter but a three pointer at the buzzer from Hoff pushed Miami's lead to 18-12.
The Chippewas would outscore Miami 21-15 in the second quarter to knot the score at 33-33 at the half.
Both teams came out hot to begin the second half. Hoff scored a quick five points on Miami's first two possessions and Dickerson added six points in the first 4:30 of the third quarter as the game remained tied at 48-48 with 4:49 left in the third.
Central Michigan would continue its hot shooting and maintain a 70-59 advantage after three quarters of play. In the quarter the Chippewas shot 82.4 percent and were 8-of-11 from behind the arc.
Miami's comeback started early with back to back buckets by Kluesner and a triple from Dickerson. A Hoff layup got Miami to 84-78 with 3:00 to play, but the RedHawks could get no closer.
Miami returns to action on Feb. 12 at Northern Illinois.
