Chandler's 25 leads Miami to 76-58 win over Bowling Green
By: Jack Mueller
The Miami RedHawks picked up their second conference win of the season, defeating Bowling Green 76-58 at Millett Hall on Saturday. Coach Glenn Box’s team jumped out to a sizable lead in the second quarter and never looked back. After a narrow 47-46 loss in their last game, Box said he was happy with the bounce-back performance
“They’re a resilient bunch.” said Box, “they did what they needed to do.”
“No one felt like we should have lost that game, so we weren’t going to let that happen again.” said guard Maya Chandler.
Chandler led the way for the RedHawks offensively. She scored 25 points, her career high, on 88% shooting. Her third three pointer of the game, a deep shot in transition, essentially secured the win for Miami, putting them up 15 in the fourth quarter.
“We need that every night, she’s more than capable.” said Box
After missing the previous game, the road loss to CMU, Tamar Singer returned to the lineup and made an instant impact. The freshman guard finished with seven points and seven assists, often leading Miami’s transition offense.
“She gets us up-tempo, she gets us playing fast. It’s much more fun to watch, let alone coach.” said Box
“She’s so fast, and that makes everyone else faster.” said Chandler
Miami’s offense played their most efficient game to date. As a team, the RedHawks shot 55% from the field and 53% (season-high) from beyond the arc. Enjulina Gonzalez and Amber Tretter finished the day with 17 points each on 54% combined shooting. Chandler, Gonzalez and Tretter accounted for just over 75% of Miami’s total offense in the win.
The RedHawk defense was crucial in the win as well. Miami forced the Falcons into 25 turnovers, and five different players registered a steal. Those turnovers proved to be the difference, as Miami added 33 points on those extra possessions.
“If we’re able to stay healthy and allow this team to gel… the skys the limit.” said Box.
How it Happened
Bowling Green got on the board first, but it was Miami who took control of the game early. Maya Chandler’s five first-quarter points and an and-one from Amber Tretter gave the RedHawks a 10-4 lead after five minutes.
Lexi Fleming scored all nine points for the Falcons to bring them within three after connecting from beyond the arc, but Enjulina Gonzalez re-established the two-possession lead with a three of her own. Katey Richason got on the scoresheet via a post-move layup to make it 17-9 as the horn sounded on the first quarter.
Gonzalez kept the momentum going for the RedHawks to open the second, making her second mid-range jumper of the day to extend the lead to double-digits. That lead only lasted a matter of seconds, as Jasmine Fearne responded with a three-pointer to make it 19-12. Tamar Singer’s layup and Amber Tretter’s first three of the day gave the RedHawks a twelve point lead before Paige Kohler and Lexi Fleming hit back-to-back threes to climb back within six.
Chandler’s ninth points of the day gave the RedHawks another double-digit advantage, before Richason’s third bucket extended the lead to 12. Bowling Green kept fighting though, as Amy Velasco finished through contact and hit from three point range to cut the lead to six. Miami re-established the dozen-point lead through six straight points from Tretter, and Chandler added two more before the half to send the teams to the break with the score at 40-26.
The Falcons began to cut into the lead after the break, as baskets from Fleming and Johnea Donohue made it 44-33 with just over six to play in the third quarter. Fleming’s third three-pointer of the game drew Bowling Green within eight, kicking off a 5-0 run for the visitors.
Not to be outdone, Singer connected on a three of her own to re-establish the four-possession lead for the RedHawks. Back to back buckets from Tretter and Gonzalez gave the hosts their largest lead of the night at 15, before Chandler connected on another three to extend the lead to 17.
Bowling Green responded with a 7-1 run of their own to bring the game within nine points in the fourth quarter. Lexi Fleming eclipsed the 20-point mark with a baseline floater, before making a tough mid-ranger with seven minutes left to play. Miami responded again though, as Gonzalez and Chandler hit shots from beyond the arc to reclaim the 15-point lead with just over five minutes to play.
That lead proved to be too much for Bowling Green to overcome. Cori Lard, Chandler and Richason were among the RedHawks who made their shots from the charity stripe to extend the lead to 20. Up 78-60 with under a minute to play, Miami opted to let the clock run down and secure their second win of 2025.
Up Next
The RedHawks will head north to face the Huskies of Northern Illinois in DeKalb for a midweek MAC matchup. Wednesday’s game will be the final time that Miami and NIU face off as conference rivals on the Huskies’ campus. Miami will be looking to win consecutive games for the first time since December 21st and improve on their .500 record in the conference.