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March 2, 2002
OXFORD, Ohio-Miami University's women's basketball team qualified for its third consecutive Mid-American Conference Quarterfinal Saturday afternoon in Millett Hall, coasting past the University of Akron, 80-60, in first-round MAC tournament action.
With the win, Miami, the No. 4 seed, advances to Cleveland to face fifth-seeded Western Michigan University at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Gund Arena. The RedHawks, who have won six straight games, advance to the quarterfinal round for the 13th time since the tournament field was expanded to include a quarterfinal round in 1988 and face a Bronco team they defeated, 71-58, on Jan. 5.
Following a sluggish start by both teams, Miami found itself leading a feisty Akron squad just 14-10 at the 11-minute mark. Sparked by back-to-back 3-pointers from Melanie Kozlowski (Parma, Ohio/Holy Name) and Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo), however, the RedHawks took off on a 25-4 run and never truly looked back.
After trailing by as many as 25 at 41-16, the Zips finished on a 10-3 run and took advantage of poor Miami free throw shooting to reduce the halftime deficit to 44-26.
In the first half, Miami was led by three players in double figures, including Kim Lancaster (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton), who netted 12, Cusick who poured in 11 and Colleen Day (Independence, Ohio/Holy Name), who netted 10. Cusick also totaled four assists in the half to surpass Carrie Kent (1993-97) as Miami's all-time assist leader.
Akron was never able to mount a serious threat in the second half, as Miami opened the half on a 16-6 run and led by 28 at the 14:38 mark. Battling a large second-half deficit, the Zips continued to battle till the end, reducing the Miami advantage to 17 over the next seven minutes but never pulling any closer.
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Pacing the RedHawks, who improved to 18-10, were four players in double figures, led by Lancaster's game-high 19 points. Cusick added 15 points, six assists and four steals, while Day and Kozlowski contributed double-doubles of 14 points-12 rebounds and 10 points-10 rebounds, respectively.
Akron, which finished the season at 1-27, was led by Jen Arnold's 10 points.
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