Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio – Eastern Kentucky led by 12 at halftime and by 14 with 18:09 left to play, but three scoring droughts that lasted five, four and four minutes helped Miami (Ohio) stage a second half comeback for a 60-55 win.

After a lay-up by Raechele Gray gave EKU (4-6) it’s second 14-point lead of the second half, the Lady Colonels went 5:03 without scoring.  The RedHawks’ 12-0 run cut the deficit to two, 38-36, with 13:17 left to play.  Eastern put a stop to that run by scoring four straight, but then suffered another scoring drought that lasted 4:03.  This time Miami scored nine unanswered and led 45-42 with 9:00 remaining.

The game remained close the rest of the way.  A free throw by Jade Barber at the 6:40 mark kept Eastern Kentucky within two.  However, the team’s final scoring drought began.  This one lasted 3:55.  Fortunately Miami suffered through a drought that lasted more than five minutes during the same time.  When Carla Booth’s jumper finally ended the Lady Colonel drought with 2:46 left, the game was tied 48-48. 

The Redhawks scored the next five points and then made 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute to secure the win.

Marie Carpenter led EKU with 14 points, but scored only three in the second half.  Barber had 12 and Alex Jones added 10 points.  #LaRa`e Allen# contributed a team-best 10 rebounds.

Maggie Boyer led all players with 16 points for Miami, but she also only scored three in the second half.  Kirsten Olowinski posted a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

EKU took advantage of a poor shooting first half by Miami to build a 12-point lead at the break.  The RedHawks were 8-for-28 from the field (28.6 percent) and made just one of their 11 attempts from three-point range.  The Lady Colonels shot 39 percent from the floor while knocking down 4-of-8 from deep.  Eastern committed only five turnovers in the first half, compared to 10 for Miami.

The roles were reversed in the second half.  EKU shot just 23 percent while Miami hit on 37 percent of its shots.  Eastern turned the ball over 14 times, compared to six for MU.  The RedHawks finished with 19 offensive rebounds which they turned into 18 second-chance points.

The Lady Colonels will take next week off from game action while concentrating on final exams.  When EKU steps back on the court for a game, it will be the first Ohio Valley Conference contest of the season at Jacksonville State on Dec. 20.  Tip-off in Jacksonville, Ala., is scheduled for 8 p.m.