DEKALB, Ill. – The Miami University women's basketball team won its second-straight contest, downing Northern Illinois 73-52 on Wednesday evening.
Enjulina Gonzalez scored a game-high 25 points (20 in the first half) to help the RedHawks improve to 10-5, 3-2 MAC. Chelby Koker led NIU (7-9, 1-4 MAC) with 14 points.
How it Happened:
- With the game tied at nine apiece, the RedHawks scored seven-straight, five from Gonzalez and a layup from Tamar Singer. After NIU converted a layup to make it 16-11, Gonzalez beat the buzzer to put the RedHawks up 18-11.
- The Huskies cut Miami's advantage to just three, 22-19, with 5:35 to play in the first half. Gonzalez scored 10 points following the media timeout to help the RedHawks close the opening half on a 15-4 run. The RedHawks went to the locker room up 37-23, highlighted by 20 first-half points from Gonzalez and a stifling defense that held NIU to 1-of-10 shooting from long distance.
- Maya Chandler scored Miami's first four points of the second half and following her third bucket of the quarter, Miami led 47-32 with 5:43 to play. NIU's triple made it 47-35, but five straight free throws from Amber Tretter, game Miami a 17-point advantage, their largest lead to that point. Miami led 55-40 after three quarters of play.
- NIU cut the deficit to 14 early in the fourth, but a triple from Singer and a three-point play from Tretter pushed Miami's advantage to 19, 63-44 with seven minutes to play. The Huskies never got closer than 14 points the remainder of the game.
Game Notes:
- Amber Tretter had the 13th double-double of her career, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
- For the fifth time this season, Enjulina Gonzalez scored at least 20 points. She added seven rebounds and two assists.
- Miami forced 23 turnovers. The RedHawks are now 7-3 on the season when forcing at least 20 turnovers in a game.
- The RedHawks recorded 17 steals, led by Maya Chandler, who had a career-high five.
- The last time Miami beat a MAC team by 20-plus points was back on Feb. 22, 2023, an 88-67 win over NIU. The last time Miami won a MAC road game by 20-plus points …Feb. 1, 2020 at Bowling Green (80-59).
Up Next:
Miami returns to action Saturday, Jan. 18 with a trip to Buffalo. Opening tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.
