Women's Basketball

Miami Runs Past Marist; Ball State Improves to 7-1

Saturday’s Women’s Basketball Results
Miami 63, Marist 37
Ball State 70, Alabama A&M 38
Hampton 58, Buffalo 56
Stories Courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications Departments

Miami 63, Marist 37
Box Score
ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands – The Miami University women's basketball team captured a 63-37 victory on Saturday over Marist University (2-6). Miami held the Red Foxes to 21-percent (10-47) shooting and forced 18 turnovers to improve to 5-3 on the year. Amber Tretter had her second-straight double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, while Amber Scalia had a game-high 13 points and Ilse de Vries chipped in with 11. Tamar Singer threated a triple-double with nine points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

How it Happened:
  • Miami raced out to a quick 6-0 lead with points from three different players and a layup from Núria Jurjo made it 10-5 at the first media timeout. Marist responded with a 9-0 run to close out the opening quarter for a 14-10 advantage.
  • Scalia knocked down a triple to begin the second quarter, but Marist used a 5-0 run to claim a 19-13 lead early in the second quarter. The RedHawks' defense held Marist to two free throws in the final 7:15 to head to the locker room up 32-21. During the 19-2 run, five different RedHawks scored, highlighted by seven points from Tretter.
  • Miami maintained an eight-point advantage, 37-29, with 4:14 left in the third quarter. A jumper from Tretter pushed the lead to double digits and moments later Scalia and de Vries drilled back-to-back triples. Miami added a free throw and another three-pointer from Macie Taylor made it 49-29 entering the final stanza.
  • The RedHawk rout continued into the fourth. Taylor and Singer each drilled triples in the first two minutes of the fourth and Scalia added a bucket from behind the arc midway through the quarter to make it 58-29 with 5:37 to play. After a pair of Marist free throws, Ashton Elley connected on a three-pointer (her first points of the year) to give Miami a 30-point advantage.
Ball State 70, Alabama A&M 38
Box Score
NAPLES, Fla. - The Ball State women's basketball team (7-1) wrapped up its two-day competition at the Florida Gulf Coast Women's Basketball Tournament with an impressive 70-38 win over Alabama A&M (1-6) Saturday afternoon at the Community School of Naples.

With the win, the Cardinals finished the tournament with a 2-0 ledger after beating ACC foe Pitt (55-41) on Friday in its first game of the tournament. 

Ball State set the tone early against the Bulldogs outscoring Alabama A&M 16-6 in the first quarter and then 11-9 in the second frame. The first half was capped off by a made layup from Alba Caballero to give BSU the 27-15 advantage over the Bulldogs at intermission. 

The Cardinals were unstoppable in the paint today outscoring Alabama A&M 34-12. Ball State also out rebounded the Bulldogs, 56-37.

It was a well-rounded offense that saw 10 Cardinals score two or more points with Aniss Tagayi leading the way with 12 points for the game. Bree Salenbien along with teammate Grace Kingery each chipped in 11 points apiece while Tessa Towers led the Cardinals' defensive charge with 10 rebounds. 

However, it wasn't just the offense that led to Ball State's victory today. The Cardinals' defense played a huge role early in the ball game. BSU held the Bulldogs to only 17 points in the first half, including only six in the first quarter alone. The 38 total points was the lowest point total the Cardinals' defense has allowed their opposition so far this season. 

The remaining two quarters mimicked the first and second frames as the Cardinals controlled their destiny throughout the competition. Despite their efforts, the Bulldogs were unable to fight their way back into the game.