Preview: Struggling Buffalo Faces MAC Powerhouse Miami (Ohio) in Women’s Basketball

OXFORD, Ohio (Interstat) — A stark contrast in fortunes will be on display Wednesday night when the Mid-American Conference’s top team, the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks, host the struggling Buffalo Bulls in a women’s basketball matchup at Millett Hall.

The Redhawks (14-4 overall) enter the contest riding a six-game winning streak and sit atop the MAC standings. They are coming off a gritty 51-49 road victory at Bowling Green on Saturday, a game in which forward Ilse de Vries scored 17 points and blocked three shots. The junior has been a consistent force, averaging 12.3 points and 2.2 blocks per game during the win streak, providing a reliable interior presence for a defensively stout Miami squad.

Conversely, Buffalo (2-15) seeks to halt a seven-game skid. The Bulls fell 79-67 to Massachusetts at home last Saturday, their 13th loss in the last 14 outings. The lone bright spot has been the prolific scoring of guard Aniya Rowe. Despite the team’s struggles, Rowe has averaged 18.6 points over her last five games, including a 24-point effort at Ball State and a 19-point, six-assist performance against UMass. Containing Rowe will be a primary focus for the Redhawks’ defense.

The matchup pits one of the conference’s most efficient teams against its most beleaguered. Miami has held opponents to 55.8 points per game during its current streak, while Buffalo has allowed an average of 78.1 points in its last seven losses. The Bulls’ offense, outside of Rowe, has sputtered, failing to reach 70 points in any game this calendar year.

History and momentum heavily favor the home team. Miami has won nine of its last ten and boasts a perfect 8-0 record at Millett Hall this season. Buffalo is 0-8 in true road games, with its last win away from home coming on Dec. 3.

Tip-off is set for Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. For Miami, the game is a chance to solidify its conference dominance. For Buffalo, it represents another daunting challenge in a season defined by them, with the task of slowing a surging contender in one of the MAC’s toughest venues.