MUNCIE, Ind. – After falling behind 22-4 just seven minutes into the contest, the Miami University women's basketball team nearly erased the 18-point deficit, but came up just short in an 85-82 defeat at Ball State on Wednesday evening. The loss drops Miami to 1-13 overall and 0-10 in Mid-American Conference play, while Ball State improves to 7-5 overall and 5-3 in conference.
 
In the loss, sophomore Peyton Scott had a near triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists (career-high) and eight rebounds, while senior Kelly McLaughlin (14), senior Kenzie Schmitz (14) and senior Abbey Hoff (11) also scored in double figures.
 
How it Happened:

• Ball State made five of its first six shots and raced out to a 22-4 advantage just seven minutes into the contest. Miami answered with a 15-2 run to close out the quarter, with the help of nine points from Scott, to close the gap to 24-19.
• Miami used the deep ball in the second quarter, connecting on five shots from behind the arc. Both Taylor Boruff and Schmitz drained a pair of triples in the second quarter alone as Ball State went into the locker room with a 44-38 advantage.
• A Schmitz three pointer, her third of the game, cut BSU's lead to 54-51 with four minutes to play in the third quarter, but the Cardinals stretched their lead to six (62-56) with one stanza to play.
• Vannessa Garrelts caught a pass from Scott and drained a three pointer to get Miami to within 80-75, and on the next possession Kelly McLaughlin caught a pass from Scott to convert a layup as the contest was down to a single possession with 46 seconds to play.
• After a pair of free throws from Ball State, Scott drove through the lane and was fouled for a three-point play to shrink the gap to 82-80 with 21.8 seconds remaining. Schmitz converted a pair of free throws 10 seconds later and Miami was down just 83-82.
• Ball State made its free throws on the ensuing possession and Scott's game-tying three pointer was just short as the RedHawks fell, 85-82.

 
 
Game Notes:

• Miami had a season-high 30 bench points, led by a career-high 14 points from Schmitz.
• The RedHawks made a season-high 12 three pointers. Prior to Wednesday's game, Miami had made nine at Ohio State and Evansville. Miami finished the contest shooting 48 percent (12-of-25) from long range, also a season best.
• Scott finished with a career-high 13 assists. Her previous best was seven assists versus Bowling Green on Jan. 23.
• Taylor Boruff scored a career-high six points. Her previous high was three points versus Western Michigan on Jan. 20.
• Hoff was one point shy of her season-best, recording 11 points versus the Cardinals.
• Schmitz made a career-high four three pointers.
• Jada Ducket had a career-high eight rebounds.

 
Up Next:
Miami returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 30 with a 1 p.m. showdown at Northern Illinois.