 |
 |
|
Feb. 3, 2003
MUNCIE, Ind.-Fresh off its most exhilarating win in recent memory, Miami University's women's basketball team suffered its most heartbreaking loss in recent years Monday night, tumbling at Ball State 97-94 in overtime after allowing a 16-point lead to slip away.
In a fast-paced first half, Miami (10-9, 5-3 MAC) seized the early momentum but could not hold it, and a late RedHawk drought allowed Ball State to stake a 45-38 halftime lead. Led by Heather Cusick, who tallied eight of Miami's first 10 points, the RedHawks grabbed a 10-5 lead out of the gates. Ball State rallied over the next three minutes and claimed the lead at 17-14 with a Kate Endress trey at 12:59.
Cusick quickly brought Miami back, and the RedHawks held a 31-26 advantage when she drained her fourth trey of the half at 8:11. Miami cooled over the next six minutes, though, as the Cardinals assembled a 16-1 run and grabbed the largest lead of the half at 42-32 with 1:27 remaining. A Nicki Motto 3-pointer, one of six first-half RedHawk treys, finally busted Miami out of its funk, and Miami went into the half trailing by seven.
Miami, which was led by Cusick's 14 first-half points, shot 35 percent from the field in the first half but grabbed 10 offensive rebounds. Ball State shot 50 percent from the floor in the half but hit just 9-of-19 free throws.
The RedHawks responded early in the second half, outscoring the Cardinals 9-1 over the first two minutes to regain the lead and taking a 54-52 lead into the first media timeout. In the midst of a 20-7 run that included nine points from Cusick, Miami held a 58-52 lead when Cusick drew her fourth foul with 14:59 remaining. In the ensuing moments, Ball State made a brief run closing to within 58-56 with 14:04 remaining.
With its leader on the bench in foul trouble and momentum slowly shifting, an entire Miami team rose to the occasion, outscoring Ball State 12-4 over the next five minutes and staking a 76-60 lead. The Cardinals once again responded with a run of their own, trimming Miami's advantage to 78-71 and forcing a RedHawk timeout with 5:57 to play.
|
|
 |
Cusick checked back in on the next possession, promptly burying her sixth trey of the night and boosting Miami's lead back to double digits. Backed by its largest home crowd of the year, Ball State refused to die and was back within 86-84 following back-to-back 3-pointers by Johna Goff. Two possessions later, Tamara Bowie hit a layup with eight seconds remaining to knot the score and send the game into overtime.
Miami, which has played in a program-record four overtimes this season, scored the first five points of overtime, but on this night it was not meant to be. Ball State responded with seven unanswered points to snag a 93-91 lead. Miami had two opportunities to knot the score but a pair of shots rimmed out and Goff finished the RedHawks off with two free throws on Ball State's next possession.
Cusick led all scorers with 28 points in just 26 minutes, while Kim Smith and Kim Lancaster each poured in 12. Miami shot 47 percent on the night, losing for the first time this season when shooting better than 45 percent from the field. Cusick was 11-of-18 from the field and 6-of-8 from 3-point range. Goff led Ball State (13-5, 7-1 MAC) with 26 points, including four 3-pointers.Ball State attempted 35 free throws to Miami's 13.
The RedHawks return home at 2 p.m. Saturday for a key MAC East contest against Kent State University that will decide the division lead. Miami is the only MAC East team to defeat Kent State in the past three seasons and will be looking for its fourth straight home defeat of the Golden Flashes.
|
|
||
| MuRedHawks.com WEB | ||
