Women’s basketball hosts round two matchup in WNIT against Duquesne

The Miami University RedHawks women’s basketball team (19-11) continues its post season on March 23 when the RedHawks host the Duquesne University Dukes (20-12) in round two of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).

Miami played its first postseason game under head coach Glenn Box at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament on March 12. The RedHawks fell 68-61 to the Kent State University Golden Flashes for a first-round exit.

Despite the loss, Miami still has plenty to celebrate. The MAC preseason poll foresaw the RedHawks to place eighth in the conference, but their 11-7 conference record placed the RedHawks at fifth. Miami currently sits one victory shy of 20 wins, which would be its most since the 2018-19 season.

With their standing, the RedHawks earned a first-round bye in this year’s WNIT.

Across their six WNIT games, the RedHawks have won once. Their lone win came in their first appearance against the Xavier University Musketeers in 2004. Miami later fell in the second round against the Iowa State University Cyclones.

Miami played four more times in the WNIT. The RedHawks lost their first games in each year, first to the University of Richmond Spiders in 2012 and to the University of Illinois Fighting Illini in 2013. They appeared in the tournament in 2018 and 2019, losing in the first round both times.

This season, the RedHawks not only return to the WNIT, but they earned a first-round bye.

Their opponent is a familiar face: the Dukes, who last beat Miami in the first round of the 2018 WNIT.

Duquesne wrapped up conference play this season in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament. After advancing past the Fordham University Rams in the second round, the Dukes lost to Richmond 63-58.

The Dukes remained one of the best offenses in the Atlantic 10, averaging 72.6 points per game, the second-highest in the conference. A main proponent of the team’s offense has been senior guard Megan McConnell, who leads the conference averaging 18.3 points per game.

This offensive strength pushed the Dukes to a last-second victory over the Longwood University Lancers in the first round of the WNIT on March 20.

The score held even at halftime, with Duquesne holding a 34-33 advantage after two quarters. However, a 21-11 run for the Lancers forced the Dukes to fight back in the last 10 minutes.

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Junior guard Jerni Kiaku led the way back with nine points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning jumper with less than one second on the clock. McConnell added seven points in the fourth quarter, and the Dukes overall outscored the Lancers 25-14 to take their 70-68 victory.

McConnell led the roster with 25 points while also catching eight rebounds and stealing the ball seven times. Kiaku followed with 17 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double.

Duquesne’s visit to Millett marks the sixth meeting between the Dukes and the RedHawks. Miami holds a 1-4 record against them, with the RedHawks’ last win coming in 2013.

On March 23, the RedHawks not only have a chance at revenge against Duquesne, but they can take their first WNIT win in six years and bring their season-total wins to 20.

Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Millett. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

@thekethan04

babukc2@miamioh.edu