Miami vs Kent State around 1:30 Wednesday in Cleveland

ESPN+. This is our first tournament game in Cleveland in 6 years. Kent, on the other hand has been playing there every year and won the tourney last year and played in the NCAA.
So tournament experience is a Kent advantage. Kent’s starting center Janae Tyler did not play in their last 2 games. If she is out again that would be a big factor to our advantage.

Otherwise there is not a big difference between the two teams. Kent is 20-11 (12-6). Miami is 19-10 ( 11-7). In Oxford in January Kent won 77-62. In Kent in February Miami won 64-62.

Over the last two games 6-2 SR Wing Jenna Batsch has averaged 26 points. She is 3rd in the MAC in scoring and was a peseason choice for first team All MAC. Maya Chandler did a very good job guarding her in our win. Speaking of Maya she had a career high 26 points on Saturday and was named the Miami Athlete of the week.
Kent’s other Sr star 6-3 Bridgett Dunn is a great 3 point shooter and among the national leaders in defensive rebounds. She had 12 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists Saturday as Kent beat #2 seed Toledo. Kent is also second in the MAC in scoring. Jr Maya Babbitt is a 3 point shooter and averages over 11ppg.

For Miami Enjulina Gonzalez broke out of a shooting slump and went 9 for 13 Saturday on her way to 22 points. She is 4th in the MAC in scoring. Amber Tretter had 19 points Saturday and averages 11 points and 9 rebounds. Besides Chandler’s big game, Tamar Singer had a solid game and is currently 3rd in the MAC in steals and 7th in assists. Miami is first in the MAC in scoring defense and in the nation we are 16th in forced turnovers and 15th in steals per game.

This is game 2 of a 4 game day ( 1 ticket for the day, you can get a pass out and return with your ticket if you follow the directions. Several sports bars close by. If you are going to the men’s game, come a day earlier and cheer for both teams.

Score is 10-4 but ESPN+ feed still says starting soon!

On now

15-13 lead after the first quarter.

Kent on 16-0 run

Jesus. Kent can’t miss. It quickly went from a 2-point lead to a 14-point deficit.

Wow. That sure changed quickly.

Chandler gets a wide open look at a layup with 20 seconds left and the shot clock off, decides to take it, misses, Kent St takes the ball down to the other end and hits a 3 at the buzzer. Brutal sequence.

Cut the deficit to 7 midway through the 3rd.

Cut it to 4 but back up to 9 at the break. Too many cheap fouls are taking their toll. Tretter for 4 - two of them completely unnecessary.

Tretter starting Q4 with 4. Do or die!

Can’t cut it to less than four. Too many missed shots.

Was just going to say the same exact thing. D is ok, but missing a whole bunch of shots.

Crap. Lid on basket.

Seems like the refs are calling some pretty ticky tacky fouls.

We simply didn’t play well enough to win today. Outstanding season!

The team was carried by four players this year. Three of them should be returning and all of those three are sophomores or younger. This team will be back.

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