OXFORD, Ohio (Interstat) — The Miami (Ohio) Redhawks used a dominant second quarter to pull away from the Buffalo Bulls and never looked back, securing a 76-52 victory in a Mid-American Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at Millett Hall.

The game turned decisively in the second period. After a competitive first quarter that ended with Miami holding an 18-15 edge, the Redhawks unleashed a 22-10 blitz in the second. A stifling defensive effort fueled the run, as Miami forced eight Buffalo turnovers in the quarter and converted them into easy transition opportunities. The Redhawks’ offensive efficiency soared, shooting 8 of 14 from the field in the period while holding the Bulls to just 4 of 13 shooting. By halftime, what had been a three-point game ballooned to a 40-25 Miami lead, effectively deciding the contest.

The Redhawks’ backcourt duo of Tamar Singer and Amber Scalia orchestrated the pivotal stretch. Singer, a 5-foot-4 guard from Haifa, Israel, facilitated the offense with precision, finishing the game with 15 points and six assists. Scalia, a 5-9 guard from Stillwater, Minnesota, provided a scoring punch with 14 points, including a crucial three-pointer during the second-quarter surge that extended the lead to double digits for the first time.

Miami’s interior presence, led by 6-3 center Ilse de Vries of Groningen, Netherlands, proved overwhelming on both ends. De Vries recorded a stat line of 17 points and five blocked shots, altering countless other attempts by Buffalo. Her defensive anchor role limited Buffalo’s opportunities in the paint and sparked Miami’s transition game. Forward Amber Tretter of Ferdinand, Indiana, added 11 points and was active on the glass.

Buffalo, which fell to 2-16 overall and 0-7 in MAC play, struggled to find any sustained offensive rhythm against Miami’s pressure. The Bulls committed 28 turnovers, which the Redhawks converted into 27 points. Buffalo’s offensive rating of 70.6 on 74 possessions underscored the difficulties. Guard Paula Lopez of Alicante, Spain, led the Bulls with eight points and five assists, while forward Meg Lucas of Melbourne, Australia, provided a first-half spark to finish with 12 points. But the Bulls’ attack was consistently disrupted, managing only 10 assists against those 28 giveaways.

The Redhawks, who improved to 15-4 overall and 7-0 in the conference, maintained their comfortable lead throughout the second half. The advantage never dipped below 13 points after halftime, as Miami’s defense continued to smother Buffalo’s efforts. The Bulls shot just 40.4% from the field and a meager 22.2% from three-point range. Miami, by contrast, shot 46.6% from the floor and an efficient 84.2% from the free-throw line, going 16 of 19.

Miami also showcased superior ball movement and defensive activity, out-assisting Buffalo 15-10 and recording 15 steals to Buffalo’s 10. Guard Nuria Jurjo of Barcelona, Spain, contributed seven points and was a disruptive force defensively, while Macie Taylor of Troy, Ohio, chipped in seven points off the bench.

The victory keeps Miami (Ohio) perfect in league play and in firm control atop the MAC standings. The Redhawks entered the game as overwhelming favorites according to advanced metrics, with a projected win probability over 91%, and executed their game plan to fulfill that expectation. Buffalo, mired in a lengthy losing streak, continues to search for its first conference win as it heads into a matchup with Kent State on Saturday.

Attendance at Millett Hall was announced as 421.