Feb. 18, 2006
Final Stats
OXFORD, Ohio - Rachel Frederick registered a double-double and Simone Redd returned to the floor for the first time in three weeks, but the Bobcats were topped by Miami on Saturday, 60-56, in Millett Hall.
Frederick (Gibsonia, Pa.) used a 14-point, 10-rebound effort to notch her team-leading fifth double-double of the season. Redd (Warrensville Heights, Ohio), who suffered an ankle injury and missed the last six games, returned to action with seven points and five rebounds in 24 minutes Saturday.
Tied at 19 at the break, Ohio (7-17, 4-9 Mid-American Conference) led for much of the second half. The Bobcats pulled ahead by five points, 39-34, with 10:46 left in the game. The Cats would lead by five as the clock neared the eight-minute mark, but from there the RedHawks began to take control. Miami (8-16, 3-10 MAC) went on a 10-0 run over the next two and-a-half minutes to take a five-point lead of its own, an edge the RedHawks would never relinquish.
Ohio cut the lead to a single possession on a few occasions down the stretch, including using a Redd three-pointer to cut the deficit to three with two seconds left. Miami converted from the free-throw line in the final couple ticks, though, to even the season series at 1-1.
"The second half kind of went back and forth," said Ohio Head Coach Lynn Bria. "Once we got a five or six point lead, we started turning the ball over. I think that really hurt us. They gained the momentum back and got some confidence back. I thought that was the difference in game."
Both teams jumped out of the gate ice cold on the offensive end. After Miami took a 6-5 lead with 13:01 left in the first half, neither team would touch the scoreboard for the next six minutes. A Frederick three-pointer broke the dry spell and put Ohio on top by a bucket, 8-6. The RedHawks used a 7-4 run over the last three-plus minutes to tie the game at 19 as the clubs went to intermission.
For the half, Ohio shot 25.9 percent (7-27) from the field, while Miami countered at 22.9 percent (8-35). Ciara Iglehart (Mission Viejo, Calif.) finished the half with seven rebounds and three Bobcats shared the scoring lead with five points apiece. Miami was led by Eve Pyle's seven points off the bench. Ohio held a two-rebound advantage on the glass.
The game was tied over the first five minutes of the second half, with neither team able to take a commanding lead. Both squads did improve offensively in the second frame, as both Ohio and Miami shot an identical 41.9 percent (13-31) from the field.
After hitting just one-of-eight attempts from the arc in the first half, Miami scored on 3-of-6 three-point tries in the second half. And though they'd shoot a worse percentage in the frame than Ohio, the RedHawks were able to get to the free-throw line 20 times in the second half, converting 12.
For the game, Ohio featured three in double figures. Frederick's 14 led the way, while Domenica Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil) followed up her first-career double-double with 13 points, five rebounds, three steals, three blocks and four assists. Quintana Ward (Park Forest, Ill.) scored 11 points with three steals and three assists.
Jenna Schone scored 13 points with five boards and four assists for Miami. Pyle finished with 11 points and nine rebounds. Ohio outrebounded Miami 48-45 on the night, but the RedHawks won the turnover battle 20-14.
In addition to her 14 points and 10 boards, Frederick notched four assists and converted 9-of-12 free-throw attempts.
"She played a nice game," Bria said. "She's been steady for us all year. Rachel brings it every game."
Redd hit 3-of-10 tries from the field and recorded a steal and an assist.
"I thought first half she struggled, she looked a little rusty," Bria said. "In the second half she really gave us a lift. Simone was a big reason that we were able to take that little five-point lead."
The Bobcats are set to return home now for two-straight. Ohio will play host to Buffalo Tuesday at 7 p.m. in The Convo.
