March 15, 2008

CLEVELAND (AP) - Miami of Ohio earned its first NCAA tournament bid as Amanda Jackson and Jenna Schone scored 19 points apiece in a 67-56 win over Ohio in the Mid-American Conference championship on Saturday.

The RedHawks, who won just 12 games last season, made the most of their first appearance in the MAC title game since 1995. Using an 11-0 run in the second half, they pulled away from the Bobcats, who had knocked off three-time defending champion Bowling Green in the semifinals.

The victory was especially satisfying for Jackson, a senior who had redshirted after sustaining a season-ending injury two years ago following an on-court collision with teammate Laura Markwood in the opener. Jackson added five rebounds, four assists and was selected tournament MVP.

It was also a sweet moment for Miami coach Maria Fantanarosa, who played four years at Miami but never made it to the finals.

The Bobcats, playing in the finals for the first time since 1986, were led by Laura Hmiel's 12 points. Senior Lauren Kohn, a first-team all-MAC selection, who failed to score in Ohio's double-overtime win over Bowling Green, added 10 points - but none in the second half.

With the score tied 41-all, Stephanie Ford's three-point play with 11:40 left triggered an 11-0 spurt by the second-seeded RedHawks. After Schone's basket made it 52-41 with 7:29 left, Fantanarosa pumped her fist and turned toward the Redhawks' fans, urging them to bring her team home.

The Bobcats weren't ready to fold, though, and closed within 59-52 on Jenny Poff's 3-pointer with 1:53 left.

But Ohio couldn't get any closer as Miami made its free throws in the final minute.

When Jackson grabbed a long rebound with 12 seconds left, she screamed, threw an index finger into the air and skipped toward mid-court as her teammates hugged in celebration knowing they were finally part of the NCAA field.

The two schools are bitter rivals whether it's in football, tennis or chess. Miami knocked Ohio out of the men's tournament and the RedHawks were hoping to duplicate that while beating the Bobcats for the second time in 10 days.

The Miami men's team, which lost to top-seeded Kent State in Friday's semifinals, stayed around to cheer on the women, who opened a 22-17 lead in the first half.

But Kohn countered with a 3-pointer, Hmiel scored two baskets and Jennifer Bushby hit her second 3 of the half to tie it 27-all.

Schone hit a 3-pointer with seven seconds left, sending Miami to the locker room with a 30-27 lead. It was the junior's 80th 3-pointer this season, setting a new school record.