CLEVELAND (Interstat) — The Miami (Ohio) Redhawks delivered a commanding wire-to-wire performance, overwhelming the Ohio Bobcats 80-52 in a Mid-American Conference women’s basketball tournament semifinal Friday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

From the opening tip, the Redhawks established a dominant tone that the Bobcats never managed to disrupt. Miami’s suffocating defense and efficient, multi-pronged offense built a staggering 48-24 halftime lead, effectively deciding the contest long before the final buzzer. The Redhawks, now 27-6, advanced to the conference championship game, while Ohio’s season concluded at 18-13.

The most critical phase of the game was its explosive start. Miami seized control immediately, opening the game on a 21-7 run in the first quarter. The Redhawks’ length and activity, particularly from forward Amber Tretter, disrupted Ohio’s offensive sets and created a cascade of transition opportunities. Ohio’s Monica Williams hit an early three-pointer to briefly give the Bobcats a 3-2 lead, but it was their only advantage of the night. Miami responded with a 19-4 surge over the next seven minutes, fueled by inside scoring from Tretter, perimeter shooting from Ilse de Vries and Clara Gonzalez Planella, and relentless defensive pressure that forced eight first-quarter Ohio turnovers.

This early blitz set the template for the entire game. Miami’s defensive intensity never wavered, and their offensive execution was precise. The Redhawks shot a blistering 48 percent from the field in the first half while holding Ohio to just 24 points on 29 percent shooting. The Bobcats, who had upset Miami 77-62 just six days prior in the regular-season finale, found no rhythm against the tightened Redhawk defense, scoring 13 and 11 points in the first two quarters, respectively.

Amber Tretter of Ferdinand, Ind., was the catalyst for Miami, posting a complete stat line of 14 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in just 24 minutes. Her presence in the paint anchored the defense and her passing facilitated the offense. She was complemented by a dynamic backcourt performance from Amber Scalia of Stillwater, Minn., who scored a game-high 22 points, and Clara Gonzalez Planella of Barcelona, Spain, who added 17 points, including three three-pointers.

Ohio, which never drew closer than 19 points in the second half, was led by Monica Williams of Indianapolis, who finished with 18 points. Elli Garnett of Lakewood, Colo., contributed eight points and nine rebounds, but the Bobcats as a team were held to 32 percent shooting for the game and committed 18 turnovers, which Miami converted into 23 points.

The Redhawks’ balanced attack was on full display, with four players scoring in double figures. De Vries of Groningen, Netherlands, added 11 points and two blocks. Point guard Tamar Singer of Haifa, Israel, directed the offense with seven assists and seven rebounds, while Nuria Jurjo of Barcelona, Spain, chipped in six rebounds and four assists.

For Miami, the victory was a emphatic statement of redemption after the loss to Ohio to close the regular season. The Redhawks’ season-long prowess, which included a 90-70 win over the Bobcats in January, reasserted itself in the tournament setting. Their 27 wins mark one of the most successful campaigns in program history.

Ohio’s season ends after a hard-fought tournament run. The Bobcats had entered the game having won eight of their last eleven, including that notable victory over Miami, but could not replicate that success under the bright lights of the semifinal.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Miami entered the game with an 83.5 percent probability to win, a projection they fulfilled with a performance that underscored their status as the conference’s premier team. They will face the winner of the other semifinal for the MAC tournament title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I women’s basketball championship.