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Preview: Miami women’s basketball travels to Northern Illinois for fifth MAC matchup

Sophomore guard Enjulina Gonzalez at Millett Hall against Bowling Green on Jan. 11
Sophomore guard Enjulina Gonzalez at Millett Hall against Bowling Green on Jan. 11

Last March, the Miami University RedHawks women’s basketball team welcomed the Northern Illinois University Huskies to Oxford with hopes of taking the series lead. Both teams had won 24 and lost 24 games before the 2023-24 matchup.

The RedHawks held a 35-25 advantage halfway through the third quarter, but a 15-0 run allowed the Huskies to take and hold the lead for the remaining minutes, ultimately defeating Miami 56-46. 

Tonight, Miami (9-5, 2-2 in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play) has a chance to even the series again 25-25 at Northern Illinois (7-8, 1-3 in MAC play). 

Through the first 14 games of the 2024-25 season, the RedHawks hold their best record since 2018-19, when they started 10-4. Miami last went 2-2 in conference play in 2021-22. 

Millett Hall saw its first MAC opponent on New Year’s Day when the Ball State University Cardinals (12-4, 4-0 in MAC play) outscored the RedHawks in four quarters for Miami’s first conference defeat 68-55.

Following the home loss, the RedHawks went 1-1 against Michigan teams. 

A 12-4 run in the fourth quarter allowed them to take a 57-51 victory over the Western Michigan University Broncos (6-8, 3-1 in MAC play). One week later, despite going into the final 10 minutes up 35-31, a jumper from first-year guard Madi Morson with eight seconds left caused Miami to fall 47-46 to the Central Michigan University Chippewas (5-10, 1-3 in MAC play). 

The RedHawks returned to Oxford last Saturday to face the Bowling Green State University Falcons (7-8, 1-3 in MAC play). Twenty-five points from graduate student guard Maya Chandler, her highest of the season, allowed Miami to take its fifth victory at Millett 78-63. 

Through the conference slate, sophomore guard Enjulina Gonzalez scored 66 points, over a third of which coming from her 23-point performance against Western Michigan. Gonzalez leads the roster with 229 points this season.

Sophomore forward Amber Tretter follows with 50 points, including a season-high 17 points against Bowling Green. Tretter leads the team in rebounds (106) and blocks (14) and trails Gonzalez with 160 points. 

For the Huskies, the primary threat lies in graduate student forward Brooke Stonebraker. The graduate student forward leads the roster in points (174), rebounds (107) and blocks (16) while averaging 11.6 points per game. 

In addition to Stonebraker, three more Huskies average over 10 points per game: junior guard Alecia Doyle (11.5), graduate student guard Chelby Koker (11.4) and redshirt sophomore forward Brooke Blumenfield (10.1). 

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Both Miami and Northern Illinois prove to be lethal behind the arc. Both teams lead the conference in 3-pointers made with 107 from the RedHawks and 106 from the Huskies. 

First-year guard Lexi Carlsen contributed 31 3-pointers for Northern Illinois, putting her at third in the conference. Gonzalez cracks the top 10 with 26 to place ninth, while Huskie redshirt senior guard Sidney McCrea sits at 12th with 24. 

When Miami lost the series advantage last season, the team dropped to 8-20 (5-12 in MAC play) and was officially knocked out of MAC tournament contention. This year, the RedHawks have an opportunity to even the series 25-25 as they strive for their first conference tournament appearance since 2019-20. 

Tipoff is at 7 p.m. in DeKalb, Illinois. The game will be televised on ESPN+.

@thekethan04

babukc2@miamioh.edu


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