Miami Falls to Kent State 68-61, Ends Best Season Since 2019
By: Jack Mueller
Photos Courtesy of: Miami Athletics
The Miami RedHawks could not dethrone the defending conference champions, falling to the Kent State Golden Flashes in the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals 68-61. Glenn Box’s team finishes the season 19-11, their best record since 2019.
The RedHawks held the lead for five minutes in the first half, but the final four minutes were their undoing. Kent State put together a 16-0 run over six minutes in the second quarter to take a commanding first-half lead over the RedHawks. The Golden Flashes outscored Miami 21-5 in the final seven minutes of the half, led by three triples from Mya Babbitt.
Babbitt finished with 19, but it was Bridget Dunn who made the biggest impact on the game. The senior forward finished with 13 on 57% shooting, to go along with 16 rebounds and three blocks. Janae Tyler (12), Jenna Batsch (10) and Dionna Gray (10) both also put up double-digit scoring outputs for the Golden Flashes.
The RedHawks battled back to within four, but just couldn’t find the crucial bucket to get them back to even terms. Miami’s offensive efficiency proved to be a major factor in the loss. Their 32% shooting percentage was their 3rd worst of the season. The RedHawks dominated the turnover battle 15-5, but could only generate 11 points from their extra possessions.
Maya Chandler marked her final appearance in a Miami uniform with her fourth straight game with 10+ points (6 out of last 7). The senior guard led the team with 19 points, and added two assists and two steals. Fellow senior Katey Richason added four points and two rebounds in her final game as a RedHawk.
Miami’s Amber Tretter had a double-double of her own, putting up 12 points and 10 rebounds. First-Team All-MAC guard Enjulina Gonzalez added 15 of her own, but outside of those three players, Miami mustered just 11 combined points.
How it Happened
Kent State’s Dionna Gray and Miami’s Katey Richason each recorded a bucket for their respective teams to get the scoring started. Babbitt and Dunn both hit threes for the Golden Flashes to make it 10-4 early. The RedHawks responded with a 13-1 run over the next five minutes, highlighted by two threes from Chandler and buckets from Gonzalez and Tretter. Kent State turned the ball over four times in that period. Batsch got two back for the Flashes before the break, but the RedHawks took the first quarter 15-13.
Babbitt tied the game after the break with a layup before Janae Tyler retook the lead for Kent State. That lead lasted all of 20 seconds, as Gonzalez’s first three of the game made it 18-17 Miami. After Tyler tied the game from the free throw line, Miami got their first bench points of the game through Ilse De Vries. Two more free shots for Tyler tied the game at 20.
Chandler’s third bucket of the game gave Miami a brief lead, but that wouldn’t last long. Kent State capitalized on four straight RedHawk misses to rattle off 16 straight points, led by three triples from Babbitt.
Chandler ended the run with a triple of her own. She had a wipe open look to cut the lead to nine right before the half, but couldn’t get the layup to fall. Kent State capitalized with another three, this time through Bridget Dunn, at the buzzer to make it 39-25.
Tretter’s first three and Gonzalez’s and-one cut the lead to nine within a minute in the second half. Both teams fell scoreless for the next two minutes, before Chandler’s 5th bucket and two Tamar Singer free throws cut the lead to five. After Gonzalez and Tyler traded buckets, Ilse De Vries’ first three of the game cut the lead to four.
Journey Hildebrand’s first action of the game was a layup to keep Kent State on the front foot, but Tretter converted two free throws to keep it at 49-45. Five Kent State free throws extended their advantage to nine heading into the final ten minutes of play.
Another Chandler three and Richason layup cut the lead to 54-50 within the first two minutes of the fourth, but thats where the scoring would stop. Both teams were unable to find a bucket for over five minutes. Kent State didn’t register their first points of the half until the 4:25 mark, after Janae Tyler went 1/2 from the free throw line. Dionna Gray’s layup broke a long field goal drought for both teams and extended the lead to seven.
Tretter pulled Miami back within five, but Batsch responded with a bucket of her own to keep it a three-possession game. Chandler had a look at the rim to cut into the lead, but her shot was blocked by Bridget Dunn. Jenna Batsch’s fourth bucket of the day extended the lead to ten.
Chandler got involved again, converting an and-one to keep Miami in the game with just over a minute to play. It was just too little too late though, and Kent State was able to sink their free throws to secure the win. Chandler ended her Miami career with two baskets to cut the lead to five, but Kent State were able to kill the final eight seconds.