The Basics
Final Score: Miami 78, Detroit Mercy 59
Records: Detroit Mercy 1-3, Miami 3-0
Location: Detroit, Mich. (Calihan Hall)

DETROIT (11/16/2018) -- University of Detroit Mercy junior forward Ashley Miller and freshman guard Jess Bicknell both tallied career-highs with 14 points each, but the Titans fell at home to Mid-American Conference foe Miami (Ohio) on Friday, 78-59.

The Titans shot 42-percent in the contest and had three players in double figures overall with sophomore forward Lexey Tobel adding 10 points for the red, white and blue. Miller nearly had her first career double-double, adding a career-high-tying nine rebounds and two blocks.

Miami used a big run in the first half to take a double-digit advantage and didn't relinquish its lead in the second half.

The RedHawks scored 10 of the first 14 points, but Tobel then scored four-straight points, sinking a pair of free throws and then converting on a lay-up with 2:34 left in the first quarter. Miller then made both of her free throw shots and Bicknell netted a lay-up of her own as Detroit Mercy used a 6-0 run to tie the game in the first quarter, 12-12, with 1:28 on the clock.

Miami would score the next 19 points, however, between the end of the first quarter and middle of the second to take a 31-12 advantage over the Titans. Tobel ended the run with a bucket and senior guard Brittney Jackson followed with a deep 3-pointer. Freshman guard Jiera Shears then made a runner off-glass for the first collegiate points in her Titan career with 3:18 left in the second quarter. Bicknell had two buckets in the final minute of the first half as her six first-half points were tied with Tobel.

At the break, the Titans trailed 44-26.

Detroit Mercy used a 6-0 run early in the third quarter to force Miami into a timeout. Junior Zoey Oatis sank two free throws and after a jumper by Miller, Bicknell added her fourth field goal of the night to force Miami to call a timeout with the score 48-34 and 5:29 left on the clock in the third.

The RedHawks would use a run to take a 59-38 lead heading into the final quarter of play. Miller took over in the fourth quarter -- scoring seven points, with Bicknell contributing five points as Detroit Mercy scored 21 points in the final stanza of play. Six different players scored for the Titans in the fourth frame.

Miller was 5-of-7 from the floor and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Her career-high 14 points were coupled with a career-high-tying nine boards and two blocks. Bicknell was 6-of-12 from the field as the pair helped the Titans shoot 42 percent. Shears had a team-best three assists, with Bellman adding a team-high three steals.

Titan News & Notes
• It was the second double-figure scoring effort for Miller in her career.
• She topped her career-high of 10 points, which came last season at Milwaukee on Feb. 23, 2018.
• Bicknell had two points in her career entering the contest before tying for the team-lead with 14 on Friday.
• The Titans shot a season-best 42.3 percent (22-for-52) from the floor in the game.
• Bellman has had multiple steals in all four games this season, notching three against Miami.
• Tobel has scored in double figures in three of four contests in 2018-19.
• It was the seventh meeting all-time between the two programs (Miami leads, 5-2).

Up Next
Detroit Mercy returns to the court on Monday, visiting Big Ten foe Michigan for a 7 p.m. contest in Ann Arbor. The game may be seen live via Big Ten Network Plus from the Crisler Center.