Women's Basketball Drops Season Opener to EIU 82-74
 
RedHawks Called for 35 Personal Fouls in Defeat as Four Players Foul Out

 

Nov. 14, 2008

Final Stats

CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Miami’s women’s basketball team twice cut a double-digit second half deficit to as close as one point, but was unable to overcome foul trouble as Eastern Illinois defeated the RedHawks 82-74 in the season opener for both teams. Senior forward Jaclyn Leininger and freshman guard Maggie Boyer led Miami with 17 points each.

The RedHawks were called for 35 personal fouls during the game that the Panthers converted for 31 of their 48 free throws. EIU also shot very well for the game at 53.5 percent, while Miami shot 40.9 percent.

The game started well for the RedHawks when on the opening possession Leininger hit the layup, was fouled and converted the free throw for the three-point play. After a 9-2 run gave the Panthers a 9-5 lead, Boyer cut the deficit to one with the first three-point basket of her career. Miami had difficulty with EIU’s Ashley Thomas, who came off the bench to score 13 points in the first 11 minutes of the game, as the Panthers built the lead to 27-13.

Trailing 35-23 with five minutes remaining in the half, Reed caught fire to help keep Miami in the game.  A free throw and two three-pointers by Reed cut the EIU lead to 40-30. The Panthers pushed the lead back to 47-34, but an Erin Wisner basket at the buzzer had the RedHawks trailing 47-36 at the half.

Reed led Miami with 11 points at the half.  Boyer had seven. Eastern Illinois shot 54.8 percent during the half compared to the RedHawks 43.3 percent, and outboarded Miami 20-15.

The RedHawks opened the second half on an 11-1 run to cut the Panther lead to one. Boyer hit a three-pointer and two free throws, followed by two Leininger buckets and a Reed layup during that stretch.


 

 

Several free throws by EIU pushed the lead back to 10 at 70-60. Miami had one last run as a Boyer three-pointer and a couple of jumpers by Leininger cut it down to four at 76-72. With under a minute to go, Jenna Schone stole the ball and hit a layup to make it 76-74, but fouled out on the ensuing possession. The Panthers hit their free throws in the last minute to seal the win.

Reed was the other RedHawk in double figures with 15. Rachel Galligan led EIU with 17 points.

Miami returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 22 when they host IPFW at noon.

 

 
MuRedHawks.com  WEB