Wednesday’s Women’s Basketball Results
UMass 74, Akron 64
Central Michigan 77, Bowling Green 65
Ohio 62, Eastern Michigan 54
Toledo 56, Western Michigan 49
Northern Illinois 56, Buffalo 53
Miami 71, Kent State 52
Stories Courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications Departments
UMass 74, Akron 64
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio – Massachusetts women's basketball (22-6, 14-3 MAC) defeated Akron (7-23, 4-13 MAC), 74-64, on a Wednesday night contest at James A. Rhodes Arena. Despite a 29-point third quarter for the Zips, a strong UMass performance down the stretch was too much for Akron to overcome.
The Minutewomen were led by Yahmani McKayle, who had a game high 25 points on an efficient 9-18 from the field, to go along with four rebounds and two assists. Megan Olbrys added 12 points, six boards and two blocks, and Lilly Ferguson shot a perfect 4-4 from the field to post nine points in 25 minutes off the bench.
UMass opened the game on a 10-2 run in a contest they never trailed. The Zips stormed back in the third quarter, hitting seven three-pointers and posting 29 points, but the early Minutewomen lead was too much to overcome.
UMass shot 51.9 percent from the field, marking the second-consecutive game Massachusetts has shot over a 50 percent clip. It is the second time this season, UMass has shot over 50 percent in back-to-back games.
Breaking Down the Action
- Minutewomen started the action going on a 10-2 run, with Olbrys leading the offensive effort with five points.
- Olbrys nabbed the second chance layup at 2:54
- Palmieri added two more points, making the Minutewomens score double than Akron, ending the first quarter 14-7.
- The Minutewomen and the Zips come into the second quarter hot, trading possession in quick succession, with Massachusetts getting six points in under two minutes
- The Minutewomen went 3:28 without scoring int the second quarter, and then turned on the offensive drive, going on an 11-3 run led by McKayle with six points, ending the half 31-17
- Palmieri started the scoring for the Minutewomen with a shot beyond the arc 27 seconds into the second half
- After a free throw from Franks, Palmieri made it three points with a layup and one more at the line.
- Ferguson nabbed a layup at 6:39
- McKayle made the three pointer off a pass from Ferguson at 5:19
- After a free throw from Franks, Palmieri made it three points with a layup and one more at the line.
- Ferguson nabbed a layup at 6:39
- McKayle made the three pointer off a pass from Ferguson at 5:19
- Ferguson dished out another layup with 3:37 left in the third quarter
- Akron went on a 10-0 run, making a comeback within two points of the Minutewomen
- Minutewomen went on a 6-0 run to pull ahead of the tie Akron set early in the final quarter
- The Minutewomen and Zips trade possession, but Akron is unable to push ahead, ending the final match, 74-64.
Central Michigan 77, Bowling Green 65
Box Score
Postgame recap coming soon.
Ohio 62, Eastern Michigan 54
Box Score
YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Ohio women's basketball team (16-12, 10-7 MAC) defeated Eastern Michigan (12-16, 5-12 MAC) 62-54 on Wednesday, March 4.
Ohio shot 32.8 percent from the field, 23.7 percent from the arc and 61.1 percent from the line. The Bobcats finished with 45 rebounds, 10 assists, 13 steals and six blocks.
Junior Bailey Tabeling (Seymour, Ind.), redshirt sophomore Bella Ranallo (Lake Forest, Ill.) and sophomore Gigi Bower (Powell, Ohio) led Ohio in scoring with 10 points each. Graduate student Elli Garnett (Lakewood, Colo.) led the team in rebounding with 10 boards in addition to a team-high three blocks. Junior Asiah Baxter (Indianapolis, Ind.) and graduate student Aliah McWhorter (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the team in assists with two each. Baxter, Ranallo and Tabeling all finished with a team-high three steals each.
Ohio got off to a slow start and didn't score until a three pointer by Bower with 7:10 left in the first quarter. Eastern Michigan went up 9-5 with just under five minute to play. The Bobcats took an 11-9 lead off another three pointer by Bower. Ohio went on an 8-0 scoring run for 1:41, taking a 15-9 lead with 2:09 to go. At the end of the first, Ohio led Eastern Michigan 17-11.
Eastern Michigan cut Ohio's lead to 17-15 with back-to-back baskets in the beginning of the second quarter. The Eagles made it a one point game, 19-18, with 5:58 left on the clock. Eastern Michigan closed in on Ohio's lead while the Bobcats struggled to perform on offense. The Bobcats experienced a scoring drought for over two minutes, allowing the Eagles to tie the game at 25-25. Ohio only led Eastern Michigan 27-25 heading into the locker room.
Tabeling got the scoring started for Ohio in the third quarter. Tabeling drained a three pointer to put the Bobcats up 30-27 with 9:01 left on the clock. With 6:21 to play, Ohio extended its lead to 35-29. Eastern Michigan came close several times, but solid rebounding and big defensive plays kept the lead with the Bobcats. A layup by redshirt sophomore Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) gave Ohio a 42-35 lead with 2:39 to go. At the end of the third, the Bobcats led the Eagles 45-39.
Eastern Michigan looked to make a comeback in the fourth quarter but came up short. The Bobcats went on to defeat the Eagles, 62-54.
Toledo 56, Western Michigan 49
Box Score
Postgame recap coming soon.
Northern Illinois 56, Buffalo 53
Box Score
Postgame recap coming soon.
Miami 71, Kent State 52
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio – For the first time since the 2003-04 season, the Miami University women's basketball team captured the Mid-American Conference Regular Season Championship with a 71-52 win over Kent State on Wednesday evening. Amber Tretter recorded 22 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks to help the RedHawks improve to 25-5 overall and 16-1 in conference play.
Joining Tretter in double figures were Ilse de Vries (18) and Tamar Singer (11). De Vries knocked down four triples and Singer tacked on seven assists as the RedHawks finished the regular season a perfect 14-0 at home.
How it Happened:
- Miami held the Golden Flashes scoreless for nearly six minutes of the contest to claim an early 13-0 lead. During the opening run, Tretter poured in four points and de Vries, Núria Jurjo
- and Clara Gonzalez Planella each knocked down a three-pointer. After KSU got on the board, Singer spotted up for a triple and a putback from Tretter made it 18-4 with 90 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. The RedHawks led 20-6 after 10 minutes of play.
- The Golden Flashes opened the second on a 12-4 run to trim Miami's lead, 24-18 midway through the second quarter. Singer then found Macie Taylor for a fast-break layup and after a KSU bucket, Tretter converted a layup and Taylor knocked down corner triple to claim a 31-20 advantage with two minutes remaining in the half. Miami led 34-24 at the half.
- de Vries scored the first eight points for the RedHawks and Kent State was forced to call a timeout after Tretter knocked down a straight-away triple to put Miami up 45-28 with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter. The Golden Flashes clawed back to make it 49-35, but back-to-back buckets from de Vries made it 53-35 heading to the fourth.
- Triples from Tretter and de Vries extended Miami's lead to 20, 59-39, and Singer added her first three-pointer of the game midway through the fourth to make it 62-43. The Flashes would get no closer as the RedHawks walked away with the victory.
