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CLEVELAND-Ignited by a 40-point effort by freshman Kim Lancaster, Miami University's women's basketball team (18-10) produced a thrilling 91-88 overtime win over Ball State University (19-9) in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. Miami advances to the semifinal round for the first time since 1997, facing East Division winner Kent State at 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 9.

Lancaster's 40 points is a Miami single-game record and the most points ever scored by a MAC freshman. It also was the second-highest point total in tournament history, falling three shy of the record.

The Cardinals went on a 20-6 run in the first half and leaped out to a 20-point lead with just under seven minutes remaining in the half. Miami, however, battled back to cut the deficit to 11 heading into the half, 54-43.

Lancaster opened the second half, scoring the RedHawks first nine points as Miami went on a 15-2 run and tie the game 58-58 at the 15:40 mark. The Cardinals came back to lead by as many as eight in the final half of the second stanza, but a three-point bucket by sophomore Heather Cusick with 44 seconds left and two clutch free throw shots made by Lancaster with 29 seconds remaining tied the game at 82-82 and sent the contest into overtime.

In the overtime period, Ball State led by as many as four. A three-point play by sophomore Jana Butler, a jumper followed by a free throw pulled Miami to within one. Senior Jenny Martin tied the game, 87-87, connecting on one of two free throw attempts with just over a minute left.

Ball State responded as Jessica Nohl hit one of her two free throws to take a one-point lead. Again Lancaster drained two free throws to take a one-point lead with 41 seconds left. Sophomore Beth Roederer, nailed another free throw to extend the Miami lead to two, and Lancaster iced the game with on final free throw to leave the final score 91-88.

For only the fourth time this season, Miami has come back from a halftime deficit to capture the game. The 11-point deficit ties the most points the RedHawks have battled back from this season. The other was an overtime win over Boston University in Miami's second game of the season.

Lancaster went 10-for-14 from the field and was 20-of-27 from the charity stripe. Her made free throws and free throw attempts are both Miami single-game records. Only a 60 percent free throw shooter, Lancaster converted on 74 percent of her attempts. She also grabbed a career-high seven steals and added nine rebounds. Roederer added 15 points and three assists. Butler posted 12 points and eight rebounds and Cusick added 11 points and four assists.