Miami women hit the boards in win over UC

RedHawks’ 44-29 rebounding advantage key in 74-69 victory.

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2:12 AM Sunday, December 18, 2011

By Pete Conrad

Staff Writer

OXFORD — The 74-69 victory by the Miami University women’s basketball team over the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday at Millett Hall was more or less an inside job.

“Rebounding helped us to really get the edge on them,” said Miami coach Maria Fantanarosa, whose team outrebounded UC 44-29 and outscored them in the paint 36-30. “Our post players were unbelievable on the boards. We outworked them.”

Point guard Courtney Osborn led the RedHawks in scoring with 23 points, but the two dominant players under the boards were junior forward Kirsten Olowinski, who had 19 points and 16 rebounds, and senior forward Lillian Pitts, who hauled in a career-high 13 rebounds and also scored nine points.

“Rebounding was a big focus and we’ve been talking a lot about it lately,” Pitts said.

According to Fantanarosa, Pitts was able to get the defensive rebound and then hurt the Bearcats again on the offensive end in the same sequence.

“She just out-sprinted them down the court to get them on their heels,” the Miami coach said.

The victory ran the RedHawks’ record to 7-3 and gave them another quality win (in addition to victories over Massachusetts and Indiana).

“It’s very important,” Pitts said of the quality wins. “It teaches us to stick to the game plan, to focus on the defense, knowing our offense will come around.”

It was the fourth straight loss for the Bearcats (6-4), who played without leading scorer Dayeesha Hollins. The sophomore guard was averaging 14.3 points before suffering a dislocated shoulder.

“We played hard,” Cincinnati coach Jamelle Elliott said. “Our team plays extremely hard for 45 minutes. (Bjonee) Reeves was our only primary ball-handler out there and played an unbelievable game.”

Reeves led all scorers with 25 points. She drilled five 3-point baskets and also had nine assists and six steals.

Chanel Chisholm added 16 points for the Bearcats, Kayla Cook scored 11 and Tiffany Turner had 10 points and nine rebounds before fouling out with 5:49 remaining.

UC led 23-12 with 7:08 left in the first half, but Miami surged ahead in the second half with a 20-3 run.

“They made shots when they had to make shots, they made free throws when they had to make free throws,” Elliott said of the RedHawks.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or Pete.Conrad@coxinc.com.

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