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Miami women lose to Huskies at home

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12:49 AM Sunday, February 12, 2012

By Pete Conrad

Staff Writer

OXFORD — By the time the Miami University women’s basketball team got its act on offense together, it was too late.

The Northern Illinois Huskies defeated the RedHawks 70-58 Saturday afternoon at Millett Hall after Miami had cut a 20-point deficit in half down the stretch.

The RedHawks shot only 20 percent from the floor (5-for-25) in a first half that saw them trailing 25-16 at the break.

“Our shots just didn’t fall,” said Miami guard Courtney Osborn, who led the RedHawks with 22 points, but — like most of her teammates — struggled with her shooting, hitting just one of her first 11 shots.

“In the first half, we played pretty good defense, but in the second half their intensity surpassed ours,” she said.

NIU (11-12, 6-6 Mid-American Conference) extended its lead to 48-28 midway through the second half behind the firepower of Kim Davis, who scored 22 points while connecting on 9-of-12 field goal attempts.

“Northern Illinois’ defense was great,” said coach Maria Fantanarosa, whose RedHawks lost for the fourth time in seven games, falling to 17-7 overall, 7-4 in the MAC. “They competed with a sense of urgency and continued to play that way for the whole 40 minutes.

“There were times in the second half when we didn’t quit,” she added, “but it wasn’t enough against a good Northern Illinois team.”

Maggie Boyer scored 17 points for the RedHawks, including 11 points with three 3-point baskets during the final five minutes.

Before Miami’s late second-half surge, however, Miami’s three leading scorers — Osborn, Boyer and Kirsten Olowinski — were a combined 3-for-23 from the field.

The RedHawks return to MAC East Division action with a game Wednesday night at Kent State.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or Pete.Conrad@coxinc.com.

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