Dickerson hits milestone in close RedHawks victory

Lauren Dickerson almost amazed herself.

After becoming just the second Miami women’s basketball player in program history to score 2,000 points in a career, Dickerson thought back to her pre-college days.

“It means the world to me,” Dickerson said, “especially because I didn’t get a thousand points in high school.”

The moment happened early in the second quarter. After a first quarter where neither team could buy a basket, both offenses came back to life.

After a layup by WMU’s redshirt sophomore guard, Jordan Walker, made it, 15-12, Miami junior guard Kenzie Schmitz missed a three, but freshman guard Peyton Scott grabbed the rebound.

Scott passed to Dickerson, who shot a three from the top of the key.

Nothing but net and history.

With over 2,000 points to her name, Dickerson played facilitator, assisting redshirt junior forward Abbey Hoff and junior guard Monique Esbrand on consecutive 3-pointers to put the RedHawks up by double digits.

After a back and forth second quarter, a jumper by senior forward Savannah Kluesner with under a minute to go in the half gave Miami a 31-23 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, the RedHawks came out firing with two straight Scott jumpers. Another three by Esbrand jump-started a 12-4 run, in which the RedHawks were a perfect 5-of-5 from the field.

After a jumper by Dickerson put Miami up, 49-35, it was Western Michigan’s turn to make a run.

Two straight baskets by redshirt senior forward Breanna Mobley cut Western Michigan’s deficit to 10, and Miami head coach DeUnna Hendrix called a timeout to stop the run.

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It didn’t matter.

The Broncos scored the last five points of the quarter to make it a 49-44 game after three.

After a layup by Kluesner to start the fourth, Western Michigan scored six straight points, and a three-pointer gave the Broncos their first lead of the game.

From there, the game was back and forth, with neither team leading by more than five during the quarter.

“We know basketball is a game of runs,” Dickerson said. “So they went on their run, and it was time we focused up and made our run.”

After not playing for three quarters, junior forward Kelly McLaughlin gave the RedHawks some much-needed offense, including two free throws to put Miami up 58-55 midway through the fourth.

Western Michigan wasn’t done yet, though.

After an Esbrand three put the RedHawks up by five, the Broncos responded, scoring seven straight points to give them a 63-61 lead with three and a half minutes to go.

Miami came right back, as Dickerson drained another jumper and assisted on a Kluesner basket to give the RedHawks a 66-63 lead they never relinquished.

During the five-game losing streak they snapped last Saturday, the RedHawks lost three games by single digits. This time, however, they were victorious.

“In close games, you’re constantly trying to educate for the next one,” Hendrix said. “So to finally come out on top in one of these, I’m sure, will boost our confidence.”

After a few free throws by the RedHawks iced the game, the final score was 70-67.

On a night where Lauren Dickerson was the main star for the RedHawks, she was also the leading scorer. She finished with 21 points and seven assists.

“The kid is fun to watch,” Hendrix said.

Kluesner was the only other RedHawk to score in double figures. She picked up a double-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and a monster defensive effort with two blocks and two steals.

After two straight victories, Miami will host the Toledo Rockets on Wednesday. The game is at 7 p.m. in Millett Hall.

@LukasTheDream

nelso156@miamioh.edu