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RedHawks Off To Cleveland After 78-68 MAC Tournament Victory
Miami Holds On After Squandering 20-Point Lead
OXFORD, OHIO (Feb. 28) -- Miami University's women's basketball team
survived an inspired Marshall comeback Monday night, advancing to the
Mid-American Conference quarterfinals with a 78-68 win.
Miami built its lead as high as 25-5
before the Herd was able to mount a small comeback. Marshall held Miami to
four points over the next seven minutes as it pulled to within 11 points by
6:52, but the RedHawks stopped the surge there, entering the lockerroom
with a 44-27 edge.
Aided by five quick Marshall turnovers, Miami took off on another run to
open the second half, rebuilding its lead to 51-31 by the 15:52 mark.
Backed into the corner once again, the Herd fought back with its most
determined rally of the game, closing to within seven over the next five
minutes. The Thundering Herd kept the heat turned up, closing to within
six off a Toni Patillo three pointer with under seven minutes to play and
moving as close as 61-57 before Miami gave itself some breathing room with
a quick 6-0 run.
Cusick led the RedHawks for the third consecutive game, nailing career
tying highs of 23 points and five three pointers. AuBree Hamilton (Lima,
Ohio/Bath) contributed her fifth double-double of the season with 12 points
and 11 rebounds while Nelsen narrowly missed a double-double with 12 points
and nine rebounds. Both Jamie Stewart (Rushville, Ind./Consolidated) and
Hamilton etched their names into the Miami record books in their final home
game at Miami with Stewart recording her record-tying 67th trey of the
season and Hamilton tallying her record-tying 131st career blocked shot.
Marshall, which ended its season at 8-20, was led by Yashico Stevens 16
points and Patillo's 13 points. It was the first MAC postseason appearance
for the Thundering Herd.
Miami, which recorded its first MAC postseason victory since 1997, advances
to Cleveland, Ohio, this Thursday to face Eastern Michigan for a 3:30 p.m.
tipoff in Public Hall.