OXFORD, OH – The Miami (OH) RedHawks continued their dominant run, securing a 65-53 victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas on . The win solidifies Miami’s position atop the Mid-American Conference (MAC) standings and extends a remarkable season for the RedHawks.
RedHawks Control the Game from the Start
Miami (OH) established control early, leading 8-0 in the first quarter and finishing the period with a 24-13 advantage. The RedHawks maintained their momentum throughout the contest, consistently outperforming Central Michigan in field goal percentage (37% to 33%) and free throw shooting (74% to 67%). While the Chippewas attempted to rally, they were unable to overcome Miami’s consistent offensive execution and strong defensive presence.
Scalia Leads Miami in Scoring
Amber Scalia led the RedHawks in scoring with 18 points, shooting 4-of-15 from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Nuria Jurjo added 16 points for Miami, while Ilse de Vries contributed 11. The balanced scoring attack proved crucial, preventing Central Michigan from focusing their defensive efforts on a single player.
Morson Powers Central Michigan’s Offense
Madi Morson was the standout performer for Central Michigan, scoring 17 points on 5-of-15 shooting from the field and 7-of-10 from the free throw line. Ayanna-Sarai Darrington added 14 points for the Chippewas, but it wasn’t enough to counter Miami’s overall team performance. Taylor Anderson also contributed 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds for Central Michigan.
Rebounding Battle and Turnovers
Miami (OH) held a slight rebounding advantage, finishing with 30 rebounds compared to Central Michigan’s 26. However, turnovers proved to be a significant factor in the game. Central Michigan committed 21 turnovers, leading to 6 points off turnovers for Miami. The RedHawks were more careful with the ball, committing only 10 turnovers.
Statistical Breakdown
Miami shot 22-of-59 from the field, including 7-of-26 from three-point range and 14-of-19 from the free throw line. Central Michigan shot 17-of-52 from the field, 0-of-6 from three-point range, and 19-of-26 from the free throw line. The Chippewas’ struggles from beyond the arc were particularly damaging, limiting their offensive options.
Game Flow and Win Probability
According to ESPN Analytics, Miami (OH) maintained a high win probability throughout the game, consistently exceeding 75%. Central Michigan briefly led early in the first quarter, but Miami quickly regained control and never relinquished it. The largest lead of the game was 18 points for Miami.
Looking Ahead
This victory further cements Miami (OH)’s impressive season record of 21-5 overall and 12-1 in MAC play. The RedHawks are demonstrating a level of consistency and dominance that positions them as strong contenders for the MAC championship. Central Michigan, now 16-9 overall and 10-4 in conference play, will need to regroup and address their turnover issues if they hope to remain competitive in the MAC. The Chippewas will look to bounce back in their next contest, while Miami (OH) aims to continue their winning streak and solidify their place at the top of the conference.
The game was officiated by Doug Knight, Justin Paluch, and Rachael Wood.
