.png&type=webp)
Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MIAMI (OH)
East-Leading RedHawks Hold Off BGSU, 92-81
February 03, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 3, 2004
OXFORD, Ohio - Host Miami University overcame early turnover troubles with efficient shooting, and held off the Bowling Green State University women's basketball team, 92-81, Tuesday night (Feb. 3). The Mid-American Conference game was held at Millett Hall.
With the win, the East Division-leading RedHawks improve to 13-6 overall and 7-1 in MAC play. The Falcons drop to 12-6 and 5-3, respectively, as the first half of the conference schedule came to an end.
The hosts shot .613 from the field in the first half and .596 for the game. After making 12 turnovers in the first 14 minutes, the RedHawks made only eight more the rest of the game.
BGSU senior Lindsay Austin was a big reason for MU's turnover woes. Austin set a school record with 10 steals in the game, with nine of those coming in the first half.
All five Falcon starters scored in double digits, led by freshman Liz Honegger's 19 points. Classmate Carin Horne had 16 points, while senior Stefanie Wenzel added 15. Austin had 13 and freshman Ali Mann 12.
In addition to her points-steals double-double, Austin had seven rebounds to tie Honegger for the team lead. Austin also had a game-high six assists and did not commit a turnover in 37 minutes of action.
The Falcons' five double-digit scorers, however, were not enough to offset Miami's presence in the post. RedHawk senior Kim Lancaster was 10-of-15 from the field on the way to game-high totals of 24 points and 11 rebounds. The RedHawks held a 42-28 advantage in points in the paint.
Amanda Jackson had 22 points for the hosts, while Colleen Day had 14 points. Cindi Merrill added 13 points and 10 rebounds, as Miami held a slim 36-34 rebounding edge.
The 'Hawks got off to a quick start, making the first five shots of the game. After a Horne layup opened the scoring, MU scored 11 of the next 13 points. The Falcons rallied back moments later, using a 7-0 run to take a 15-14 lead. During that stretch, a Honegger three-point play was followed by a Kelly Kapferer basket to put the Falcons in front with just over 13 minutes left in the first half.
The lead changed hands eight times in a five-minute span, before the RedHawks went ahead on a Day jumper at the eight-minute juncture. Nicki Motto followed with a three-point field goal, and buckets by Jackson and Lancaster upped the margin to seven points. Another Jackson score completed an 8-0 run, giving the RedHawks a 36-27 lead at the four-minute media timeout.
BG got within six points on a Wenzel trey, but Lancaster and Day ended the half with hoops, giving the RedHawks a 46-34 lead at the intermission.
The hosts still held a 12-point lead early in the second half, and Miami maintained a 10-point lead after a Merrill layup with 16:20 left. Then, however, the Falcons began to rally.
Horne hit a three-pointer, and Mann followed with a layup. Kapferer was fouled inside and hit a pair of free throws, and the Falcons trailed by only three points, 53-50. But, the host school scored the next 10 points, with six coming from the charity stripe, to take a 13-point lead.
The lead remained in double figures until the late going. A Horne free throw just before the final media timeout cut the MU lead to 10, and Honegger hit a triple with 3:29 left, bringing BG within 81-74.
Miami scored the next three points, but Wenzel split a pair of tosses with 1:55 left, and a Honegger layup cut the lead to 84-77 with 1:33 remaining. But, Miami got layups from Lancaster and Jackson, and the hosts were 4-of-4 from the line in the final 22 seconds to seal the victory.
The Falcons now prepare to face the other MAC divisional leader in a Saturday (Feb. 7) game. West-leading Western Michigan University invades Anderson Arena that day for a 1:00 p.m. tipoff.
NOTES
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)