The Miami University RedHawks women’s basketball team (17-9, 9-6 in conference play) recently punched its ticket to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament.
This marks the first time in four years that the RedHawks are heading to Cleveland, and the first time under second-year head coach Glenn Box.
However, Miami still has three games remaining in the regular season. On March 1, the RedHawks travel to Athens for the second Battle of the Bricks against the Ohio University Bobcats (6-20, 4-11 in conference play).
Ohio recently dropped a matchup against the Bowling Green State University Falcons, ending the Bobcats’ two-game winning streak.
After a close first quarter that saw the Bobcats trailing by three, Bowling Green outscored them 29-9 in the second quarter. Ohio couldn’t climb back from the deficit, and the Falcons solidified their spot in Cleveland with a 30-point victory.
Senior guard Kennedi Watkins and sophomore guard Bailey Tabeling combined for 30 points for Ohio. The duo leads the roster this season with 348 and 322 points, respectively. Watkins ranks seventh in the MAC averaging 15.1 points per game.
Despite that, the Bobcats struggled all season on both offense and defense. Ohio scores 58.6 points per game on average, the second-lowest in the conference, while allowing opponents to score 73.2, the second-highest.
Miami enters the matchup with one of the best defenses in the MAC. Opponents average 57.3 points against the RedHawks, the lowest in the conference.
The team also leads the conference in steals (301) and ranks fourth with 74 blocks.
Amber Tretter has proven to be a key component of Miami’s defense. The sophomore forward averages 9.1 rebounds, fourth-highest in the MAC, as well as one block and 1.6 steals.
Tretter contributes to the RedHawks’ strong offense as well. She averages 10.8 points per game, joining graduate student guard Maya Chandler (10.2) and sophomore guard Enjulina Gonzalez (17.2) in the double-figure average.
Gonzalez played her eighth game of the season with 20 or more points in Miami’s win over the Eastern Michigan University Eagles. Tretter (16), senior forward Katey Richason (12) and first-year guard Tamar Singer (10) all posted double-figure points as well.
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The RedHawks outscored Eastern Michigan by 23 points going into the third quarter. However, the Eagles slowly climbed back, eventually evening the score and taking a brief advantage early in the fourth quarter.
Miami sent the game into overtime with free throws from sophomore guard Núria Jurjo and Tretter. The RedHawks held the advantage for the final two minutes of the overtime period, taking their win 82-72.
The team earned its first spot in Cleveland since the 2019-20 season, but the RedHawks still have three matchups in the regular season.
The RedHawks won decisively in the first Battle of the Bricks, more than doubling Ohio’s points for a 72-34 victory. Gonzalez contributed 23 points, followed by Chandler with 17. Miami only allowed one Bobcat, graduate student guard Anyssa Jones, to score in the double-digits (10 points).
Following the last road game of the season, Miami returns to Millett Hall to close out the regular season against the Central Michigan University Chippewas (March 5) and the Northern Illinois University Huskies (March 8).
Tipoff against Ohio is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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