While the majority of Miami University's students got to enjoy the three-week winter break, the women's basketball team was busy on the court, playing in one of the longest road trips in school history.
The RedHawks kicked off the road trip against the Northeastern University Huskies Dec. 19. Although the Red and White have never met the Huskies on the court before, they had no trouble taking an 11-5 lead early in the game thanks to seven points contributed by sophomore forward Kirsten Olowinski. The RedHawks outrebounded the Huskies 21-15 in the first half and had no problem holding on to the lead in the second half. Olowinski had 11 points in the game, while junior forward Rachael Hencke led the team with 18 points. Miami easily clinched a 77-61 victory, out-rebounded Northeastern 38-37 in the game and increased the team's record to 7-3. The win gave Head Coach Maria Fantanarosa 200 career wins as a college basketball coach.
Following their sixth straight victory, the RedHawks traveled from Boston to Amherst, Mass. Dec. 21 to take on the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Minutewomen. The 'Hawks didn't have the same luck in Amherst as they did in Boston, falling to the Minutewomen 78-72. Miami had taken an early lead thanks to jump shots made by junior forward Lillian Pitts and sophomore guard Courtney Osborn, but UMass had a late 16-2 run in the second half, which sealed their win. Although Osborn and junior guard Maggie Boyer each had 14 points, the RedHawks were outrebounded 44-36.
Miami encountered more misfortune when the team traveled back to the Midwest Dec. 30 to take on the Chicago State University Cougars. This was the first game of Miami's road trip in which they did not take an early lead. The Cougars took the lead early and were able to hold it the entire game. Miami did have a 17-8 run in the second half to close the gap by eight, making the game 79-71, but the Cougars held on and pulled out a 94-84 victory. The RedHawks dropped to 7-5 and were again out-rebounded.
The 'Hawks were determined to pull out a victory in their last non-conference game Jan. 2 against the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Miami took the lead early in the first half with an 8-0 run. Twice the Bearcats were able to cut the score down to one point. The Red and White responded with free throws and three pointers, running up the score. Eventually, an offensive rebound by Pitts clinched the 65-56 win for Miami.
Conference play started for the 'Hawks Jan. 5 against the Kent State University (KSU) Golden Flashes before rounding out their long road trip three days later against the Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Falcons.
Miami had trouble in both games, dropping their first two conference matches. At the half against the Golden Flashes, the RedHawks were up 32-30, but an 18-7 run sealed the 76-62 win for KSU. Against BGSU, Miami just couldn't catch a break, losing 90-52. The RedHawks were outrebounded in both conference games.
The Miami University women's basketball team returns Jan. 11to Millett Hall to host the University at Buffalo.
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