LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — In a commanding road performance Sunday, the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks women’s basketball team used a dominant first half to cruise past the Bellarmine Knights 77 to 58 at Knights Hall.

The Redhawks improved their record to 4-1, while the Knights fell to 1-3.

From the opening tip, Miami (Ohio) established control, sprinting out to an 18-10 lead after the first quarter and extending that advantage to 35-23 by halftime. The Knights showed a spark after the break, outscoring the Redhawks 21-22 in a competitive third quarter, but the visitors slammed the door shut with a 20-14 final period to secure the 19-point victory.

The story of the game was efficiency, as the Redhawks consistently capitalized on Bellarmine’s mistakes. Miami (Ohio) scored 28 points off 20 Knights turnovers, while Bellarmine managed just 18 points from the Redhawks’ 16 giveaways. A significant advantage on the offensive glass also fueled the Redhawks, who grabbed eight offensive rebounds to Bellarmine’s three, leading to multiple second-chance opportunities.

Amber Scalia, a 5-foot-9 guard from Stillwater, Minnesota, led all scorers with a game-high 26 points for Miami (Ohio). She was instrumental in building the early lead and finished the game efficiently from the floor and the free-throw line.

She was complemented by a strong all-around performance from Ilse de Vries, a 6-foot-3 forward from Groningen, Netherlands. De Vries tallied 17 points and dished out a team-high six assists, showcasing her versatility. Forward Amber Tretter, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Ferdinand, Indiana, controlled the paint, pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds to go with five points.

For the Knights, guard Triniti Ralston, a Louisville native, provided a bright spot with a team-high 21 points, six rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes of action. Ava Smith added 11 points for Bellarmine in the losing effort.

Statistically, the Redhawks were the more effective shooting team, connecting on 48 percent of their field goal attempts compared to Bellarmine’s 40.5 percent. The three-point line was a key differentiator, with Miami (Ohio) hitting 10 of 26 attempts from deep, while the Knights made just 5 of 15. Both teams were nearly perfect from the free-throw line, each going 19 for 23.

The Redhawks’ offense operated at a high level, posting an offensive rating of 111.7 points per 100 possessions, a mark that far surpassed the Knights’ 82.9 rating. Miami (Ohio) also held advantages in points in the paint, assists and steals.

The announced attendance at Knights Hall was 360.

Miami (Ohio) will look to continue its strong start when it travels to face Purdue on Sunday, Nov. 23. Bellarmine seeks to get back on track with a road game against Wright State on Wednesday, Nov. 19.