OXFORD, Ohio—Amani Freeman scored a career-high 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, and the Miami University women's basketball team never trailed in a 71-53 win over Western Michigan Wednesday night. Maddi Cluse led the RedHawks (9-15, 4-7 MAC) with 21 points, while Ivy Wolf and Peyton Scott added 12 apiece. Hannah Spitzley had 14 points for the Broncos (10-12, 5-6 MAC).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Freeman scored on Miami's first two possessions of the contest and the home team seized control early. A perfectly executed 2-on-1 break from Cluse to Wolf back to Cluse gave the RedHawks a 10-4 advantage midway through the quarter. The RedHawks stretched their lead to double digits at 18-7 on a Cluse three-pointer with two minutes remaining and enjoyed a 20-7 margin at the end of the period after a nifty scoop shot by Freeman. The Red and White held WMU to 18.8% shooting from the floor in the opening quarter (3-16).
• Cluse used a three-point play less than two minutes into the second quarter to give Miami a 23-10 lead. The RedHawks' advantage swelled to 30-14 with 2:36 to play in the half after a cutting Sierra Morrow received a Freeman bounce pass and converted the layup. Morrow blocked Western's final shot attempt of the half to allow Miami to take a 32-17 lead to the locker room thanks to its stifling defense. The Broncos finished the half 0-10 from the three-point line with 11 turnovers. 
• The RedHawks' cushion grew to 17 points in the third quarter (36-19) after Cluse found Freeman in transition for an easy layup, forcing a WMU timeout. The Broncos wouldn't go away, later scoring the final five points of the period to trim the deficit to single digits at 46-38 after 30 minutes.
• After WMU started the final quarter with a pair of free throws, the home team responded with a 15-2 run, including a pair of Wolf three-pointers, to put the game out of reach. Scott capped the burst with a three-point play to make it 61-42 at the 6:18 mark. Miami's lead grew to as much as 20 points down the stretch en route to a 71-53 victory.

           
NOTES

• Cluse scored the 500th point of her career.
• Miami outrebounded Western Michigan 38-31.
• The RedHawks allowed 53 points, matching the lowest scoring total for any of Miami's Division I opponents this season (Loyola).
• Miami shot 45% from the floor (27-60) and held WMU to 30% shooting (18-60).
• Sydney Watkins had a team-high four steals, one off her career high.

UP NEXT:
The RedHawks return to action Saturday, Feb. 11 in Oxford as part of a Love.Honor.Care doubleheader presented by Western & Southern. The women's game vs. Toledo begins at 1 p.m., with the men's game against Central Michigan set to tip off at approximately 3:30 p.m. Complimentary tickets are available here.