Nov. 28, 2001

Box Score

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) buried an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime and eventually lift Miami University's women's basketball team to a dramatic 77-74 defeat of Valparaiso University Wednesday night at the Valparaiso Athletic Recreation Center.

Trailing by 11 points with less than six minutes to play, Miami assembled a brilliant rally that was capped by a Cusick layup at 2:12 that gave the RedHawks their first lead of the second half. Valparaiso battled back, capturing a three-point lead with eight seconds remaining. Cusick hit the off-balance trey from the top of the key as time expired to tie the game at 68-68.

In overtime, Miami fell down by four points early, but forced a pair of turnovers with the full-court press and cashed in on two Cusick buckets, including a long jumper with 13 seconds left. Valparaiso was unable to get off a shot in the closing seconds, as Miami improved to 2-2 on the year.

In the first half, Miami scored on its first three possessions to claim a 7-4 advantage out of the gates and used three consecutive buckets from Beth Roederer (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) to lead 11-6. Hampered by early foul trouble and a six-minute span without a field goal, Miami's lead quickly evaporated, and the Crusaders led 23-16 at 6:34.

One of two Melanie Kozlowski (Parma, Ohio/Holy Name) 3-point baskets broke Miami out of its shooting funk temporarily, but Valparaiso went on another run to increase its advantage to as many as 10 points. Led by Kozlowski and Roederer, who finished the half with 10 and eight points, respectively, Miami rallied to within four, but a late Crusader flurry sent the RedHawks into the lockerroom facing a 36-29 deficit.

Miami was led on the night by Cusick, who netted 23 points. Roederer and Kozlowski contributed 17 and 15, respectively, while Colleen Day (Independence, Ohio/Holy Name) contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds for her second career double-double.

Miami, which has played its first four contests on the road, opens its home season 7 p.m. Sunday versus Butler University. The RedHawks face the University of Kentucky at 7 p.m. next Wednesday in their second consecutive home contest.

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