Feb. 15, 2002
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REDHAWKS RETURN TO ACTION SATURDAY AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Following a week away from competition, Miami University's women's basketball team (13-10, 7-5 MAC) returns to action Saturday when it travels to Central Michigan University (10-13, 2-10 MAC) with the hopes of picking up back-to-back wins for the first time in more than a month.
Awaiting Miami is a solid Central Michigan team that has faded a bit since posting an impressive 8-3 non-conference record. After ending a nine-game losing streak with a defeat of Akron on Feb. 6, the Chippewas fell back into the losing column last Wednesday, tumbling to Eastern Michigan, 70-59.
Coached by first-year mentor Eileen Kleinfelter (Findlay '79), the Chippewas are led in scoring by junior forward Desiree Eidson's 14.7 ppg and junior guard Kendra Martin's 11.9 ppg. Senior forward Vershaun Jones, the MAC's leading rebounder, is averaging nearly a double-double a game with 9.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest. Nine different players are seeing significant time for CMU.
The Chippewas, who are averaging a league-low 16.3 turnovers per game, have struggled from the field, hitting just 39 percent of their shots on the season. CMU's opponents, on the other hand, are shooting a steady 45 percent from the floor.
A LOOK AT THE SERIES: In a series that has been dominated by runs, Miami leads 23-19 and has had the recent momentum on its side. Since the 1992-93 season, Miami has won 13-of-15 contests with Central Michigan. However, it has been a slightly different story in Mt. Pleasant, where the RedHawks have dropped their last two meetings with the Chippewas. CMU holds a narrow 10-9 series advantage on its home floor, where Miami has not won since 1997.
THE LAST MEETING: Powered by 10 3-point field goals, Miami rolled to an 85-57 defeat of Central Michigan on Jan. 13, 2001, in Millett Hall. The red-hot RedHawks used a 12-2 first-half run to build its advantage as high as 29-12 and led 47-33 at the half. For the half, Miami shot 64 percent from the field and 7-of-8 from beyond the arc. The RedHawks refused to let up in the second half, pushing their advantage as high as 30 points and finishing the game at 54 percent from the field. Leading the Red and White were Kim Lancaster and Beth Roederer, who each contributed 18 points. Heather Cusick was held to six points but contributed eight assists in the winning effort. The Chippewas, who placed only one player in double figures, were led by Beth Kindel's 11 points.
ROADHAWKS: Miami, which is playing 15 of its 27 overall games and seven of its 11 non-conference games on the road this season, has forged a 6-7 record outside of Millett Hall this season. The RedHawks are in search of their first winning road record since they went 8-6 during the 1992-93 season. Over the past eight seasons, Miami has reached .500 on the road just twice while posting a 47-63 (.427) record. Last season, Miami went 6-7 when playing in hostile surroundings. In MAC action, Miami has posted a 13-17 road record during head coach Maria Fantanarosa's tenure.
A TALE OF TWO DIVISIONS: Now in her fourth season in the Mid-American Conference, Miami head coach Maria Fantanarosa is working to improve upon a 33-27 (.550) overall league record. Miami has risen to the occasion when it's come to divisional play over the past four seasons, posting an impressive 26-10 (.722) record. Overall, Miami had turned away 12 consecutive MAC East foes in the regular season until a Jan. 26, 62-56, loss at Kent State.
Despite their success versus the East, Fantanarosa's RedHawks have not fared as well when heading West. Miami has gone just 7-17 (.292) versus the MAC West over the past four seasons and has lost 10 consecutive road games to MAC West foes. Fantanarosa's only coaching win at a MAC West venue came in her first try, an 86-83 win at Ball State on Dec. 3, 1998.
LOOKING BACK: In an often ugly game that featured a combined 48 turnovers, Miami won for just the second time in its past seven games last Saturday, defeating Bowling Green, 72-61. Previously, Miami shot a season-low 30 percent from the field and suffered a difficult 57-44 loss at Toledo on Feb. 5. Complete recaps and boxscores of these and all Miami games are found on pages 15-22.
WELL RESTED: With no mid-week contest this week, Miami should be well rested for its long trip to Central Michigan. During their off-week, the RedHawks focused on fundamentals and conditioning while also enjoying off days on Sunday and Wednesday. Miami, which has had a week away from competition three times this season, has typically responded well to the rest. The RedHawks defeated Valparaiso (77-74 OT) and Detroit (W, 68-59) following week-long respites but tumbled at Louisville (91-72) following a one-week break over Christmas.
HEAD COACH MARIA FANTANAROSA: A former standout on the court for the Red and White, Maria Fantanarosa is in her fourth season of working the sidelines for the Miami women's basketball program and owns a 58-48 (.547) record at Miami.
Since taking over a team that had no freshman class in 1998, she has guided the team to consecutive MAC Tournament appearances and back-to-back MAC East Division runner-up finishes. Fantanarosa also has brought in and mentored back-to-back selections to the MAC all-freshmen team for only the second time in program history while helping four players to all-MAC accolades. A 1990 graduate of Miami, Fantanarosa was a two-time all-MAC honoree for the Red and White. Following her graduation, she went on to serve as an assistant women's basketball coach for Xavier (1990-94) and South Carolina (1994-97) before serving a one-year stint as head coach at Western Carolina (1997-98).
One of the most prolific scorers in high school girls basketball history, Fantanarosa's 3,823 career points while at Mt. Carmel Area High School in Kulpmont, Pa., rank among the all-time Top 10 nationally.
'HAWKS ON THE RADIO: For the first time in program history, fans of Miami women's basketball can follow the Red and White live on the World Wide Web. In a deal with Yahoo! Sports, all 27 regular-season games along with any postseason action will be carried live over the internet. WMOH, Miami's flagship station, will air 17 of the games throughout the year. Calling the games are veteran Miami commentators Bob Rotruck and Bill Douglas. The live internet broadcast can be accessed by going to the women's basketball schedule page on Miami's official website- www. MURedHawks.com.
MILLETT MAGIC: Miami, which has won 13 of its last 16 in Millett Hall, has certainly created some Millett magic over the last four seasons. This season, Miami stands at 7-3 in Millett Hall overall and 4-2 in league play. Last season, the Red and White went 10-2 at home and finished the season with seven consecutive home wins. The RedHawks are 26-8 (.765) at home over the last four seasons and had turned away 10 straight MAC opponents in Millett until Northern Illinois ended the streak on Jan. 19. The RedHawks, who have won nine consecutive home games against MAC East Division opponents, return home next week to face Ohio on Tuesday and Marshall Saturday.
FOLLOWING THROUGH: Under head coach Maria Fantanarosa, Miami has made a point of finishing strong. Through the past four seasons, Miami has posted a combined record of 10-6 (.625) through its final five regular-season games and has ended every regular season on a winning streak. Ironically, Miami also stood at 6-5 in the MAC with five games to play a year ago but regrouped to win four of its last five and secure a second-place finish in the MAC East. The table appears to be set for the RedHawks, who got off to a good start with last Saturday's defeat of Bowling Green and play all of their final four games against opponents that are currently in the lower division of the league.
OFFENSE WINS: The difference between winning and losing in the MAC has become a very simple matter of putting the ball in the basket for Miami. Through its six league wins, Miami has blistered the nets, draining 205-of-407 (.504) field goal attempts. The RedHawks also have knocked down 44 percent of their 3-point attempts during the same stretch. Mirroring Miami's success during its winning streak is junior Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo), who is hitting 53 percent of her field goal attempts and 44 percent of her 3-pointers in Miami wins.
It has been ugly in Miami's five league losses, in which the RedHawks have hit just 104-of-292 (.356) field goal attempts and a dismal 29 percent from beyond the arc. Following suit is Cusick, who, under immense pressure from opposing defenses, has hit just 30 percent from the field and 24 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.
"D" ISN'T ALWAYS THE ANSWER: Though many claim that "defense wins championships," Miami is finding the theory does not hold much water. When Miami started league play 5-0, its opponents were shooting a blistering 49 percent from the field and averaging 65.0 points per game. The RedHawks also were struggling with a -4.6 turnover margin during its undefeated start.
In winning just two of its past seven, however, Miami, has held its opponents to 42 percent shooting and surrendered 63.4 points per game. The RedHawks also have maintained a +2.9 advantage in turnover margin during the slump.
STRING OF TREYS: As testament to what has become a fine 3-point shooting tradition, the RedHawks are working to maintain a string of games with at least one 3-point field goal that dates back to March of 1993. Since that game, a MAC Semifinal loss to Kent State, Miami has drained a 3-point bucket in 246 consecutive games-the longest such streak in the MAC. Louisville holds the current NCAA record, having buried a trey in 314 straight games. Individually, Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) has hit a trey in 27 straight games. Both streaks nearly came to an end on Jan. 5 at Toledo, where Miami hit just 1-of-20 3-point attempts.
MAKING A STATEMENT: A two-time honorable mention all-MAC honoree over the past two seasons, Miami's Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) has her sights set on bigger things this year. Thirteen games into the MAC season, Cusick has emerged as a strong candidate for the league's player of the year award. As of Feb. 14, Cusick ranked among the MAC's leaders in eight of a possible 12 categories. Cusick leads the league in points (17.4), 3-point field goals (2.70) and steals (2.91) per game, while ranking second in assists (5.65 apg). In MAC play, Cusick is averaging a league-best 18.0 points per game, which is 1.4 points per game better than her nearest competitor.
20-POINT DIVA: After tacking on her seventh and eighth 20-point games of the season versus Kent State (Jan. 15) and Northern Illinois (Jan. 19), Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) has tied all-time leading scorer Monica Niemann (1991-95) for first-place at Miami with 21 career 20-point games. Cusick cleared the 20-point barrier six times as a freshman and seven times as a sophomore. Since notching her 21st, Cusick has gone a season-long six games without cracking 20.
TOUGH AS THEY COME: When opposing coaches are scouting Miami, they do not have to wonder whether or not point guard Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) will be on the floor. Cusick has played in all 80 games of her collegiate career thus far and has made a remarkable 77 consecutive starts. Opposing teams can also expect Cusick to show up on the stat sheet, where she has scored in double figures in 78 percent (62-of-80) of her career games.
CHART CLIMBING: Although just a junior, Miami's Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) is making her presence felt in Miami's career record book. Cusick cracked the Top 10 in Miami's career scoring list with her 23-point outing versus Northern Illinois on Jan. 19. The junior, who has tallied 1,151 in her career, recently moved into eighth place on Miami's career scoring list.
Already ranked among Miami's career Top 10 for assists (2nd-418), free throw percentage (4th-.798), 3-point field goals (3rd-168), steals (8th-198) and field goals made (9th-393), she could finish her career ranked among Miami's career Top 10 in 10 major statistical categories.
QUITE A SEASON: In the midst of all her career record chases, what Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) has achieved during her junior season has been almost overshadowed until now. With 17 points versus Bowling Green last Saturday, Cusick became the first Miami player to record back-to-back seasons of 400 or more points. Only all-time Miami scoring leader Monica Niemann (1991-95) recorded more than one 400-point season during her career, and she was not able to do it in consecutive seasons.
Cusick, who tied her own single-season 3-point field goal record with her 62nd make versus Bowling Green, also is on pace to topple the single-season record for 3-point field goals shared by Jamie Stewart (1996-00) and current assistant coach Lisa Hayden. Miami's point guard needs six makes over the next four games to tie the record. Cusick also is making her way up the single-season charts for assists, steals and free throw percentage.
A NOSE FOR THE BASKET: Sophomore guard Melanie Kozlowski (Parma, Ohio/Holy Name), who has worn a protective mask since suffering a broken nose versus Kentucky (Dec. 5), has been providing Miami with a steady long-range threat over the past 13 contests. Kozlowski, who has drained three or more treys six times in league play, had hit 26 3-pointers over the past 14 outings. The sophomore moved into 10th place on Miami's career list with her three treys versus Akron, while also amassing her first career double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds versus the Zips. Kozlowski hit a career-best four 3-pointers and tallied a career-high 20 points in a Jan. 23 loss at Eastern Michigan.
DAY TO DAY: Following an impressive start, Miami's Colleen Day (Independence, Ohio/Holy Name) has been slumping during the RedHawks' current woes. Following a Jan. 12 defeat of Ohio, in which she poured in a career-high 28 points, Day ranked 11th in the MAC in scoring at 13.9 points per game and was hitting a league-best 60 percent of her shots from the floor. The sophomore also ranked fifth in the MAC in rebounding at 7.8 boards per game and led the league in offensive rebounds. Since that time, Day has faded considerably, averaging just 7.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while hitting a dismal 35 percent of her shots from the field over the past eight games. Day has shown signs of her old self in recent weeks, scoring in double digits four times in the last five games.
SENSATIONAL OR SLUMPING?: Following a fabulous freshman season in which she earned honorable mention all-MAC, MAC all-freshman and MAC all-tournament recognition, Miami's Kim Lancaster (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) has been hovering between sensational and the dreaded sophomore slump this season. Through 12 games in which Lancaster has cleared the double-figure plateau, she is averaging 14.7 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting 54 percent from the field. In 10 games where Lancaster has been held to less than 10 points, she is averaging just 6.0 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting a mere 33 percent from the floor.
SHE SHOOTS, SHE SCORES: Miami freshman Kim Smith (Gary, Ind./West Side) has been showing promising signs of what may lie ahead in her collegiate career. On Dec. 15, Smith shredded Detroit for 18 points and 10 rebounds, notching her first career double-double. On the day, the forward scorched the nets for eight buckets in 12 attempts. Smith was an even more dominant scorer last weekend versus Marshall, draining 8-of-11 buckets on the way to a career-high 19 points. The freshman, who uses her athleticism to get inside for close-range shots, has hit a solid 58-of-97 (.598) shots from the field while becoming Miami's most consistent finisher in the paint.
DEPTH PERCEPTION: The bench is becoming an increasingly lonely place for Miami. Since losing off-guard Katie Schwegmann (Melbourne, Ky./Bishop Brossart) for the season on Jan. 19, Miami played only seven players in losses to Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan and, with the recent emergence of Hillary Beck (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) has gone just eight deep over the past five games. Much of Miami's current situation can be blamed on the RedHawks having no senior class, the result of head coach Maria Fantanarosa's being hired too late to sign a freshman class prior to the 1998-99 campaign.
BENCH PLAY: Though Miami's starters are scoring more than 75 percent of the team's points this season, the bench has played an integral role in the team's successes and failures. The RedHawks have posted an impressive 8-2 record this season when their bench outscores the opposition's reserves. On the contrary, Miami is 5-8 when its bench is outscored. The Red and White is undefeated (5-0) when it gets at least 20 points from the bench.
PETTY THEFT: Averaging 11.9 steals a game through 23 contests, Miami finds itself once again leading the MAC in steals per game. Last season, Miami ranked first in the MAC with 12.0 steals an outing. Leading the RedHawks are Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo), who leads the league with 2.9 steals a contest, and Colleen Day (Independence, Ohio/Holy Name), who rates third in the MAC at 2.5 steals a game. Cusick, who has recorded at least one steal in 61 straight games, cracked Miami's career Top 10 with two steals versus Eastern Michigan (Jan. 23) and needs two more to become the eighth Miami player to collect 200 career steals.
SEEING DOUBLE-DOUBLE: After totaling five double-doubles through the entire 2000-01 season, Miami is making up for lost time during its 2001-02 campaign. Led by Colleen Day (Independence, Ohio/Holy Name) and Kim Lancaster (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton), who have four double-doubles apiece this season, the RedHawks have amassed 11 double-doubles on the year. Jana Butler (Findlay, Ohio/Liberty-Benton), Kim Smith (Gary, Ind./West Side) and Melanie Kozlowski (Parma, Ohio/Holy Name) have notched Miami's remaining two double-doubles. Of Miami's current players, Lancaster leads the way with seven career double-doubles, while Day has four and Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) has three.
CRASHING THE BOARDS: A key to Miami's success during its 5-0 MAC start, rebounding has been one of the RedHawks' weaknesses during their last five outings. After its first five games, Miami was maintaining a dominant +9.4 rebounding margin over its opposition, including a two-to-one edge in offensive rebounding. Over the last seven games, however, the RedHawks have slipped to a -2.9 disadvantage on the glass. Miami, which ranked 10th in the MAC in rebounding margin last season, ranks third this season and has out-rebounded the opposition 14 times in 23 games. The RedHawks are 10-4 when out-rebounding their opponents.
THE MAGIC NUMBER: Miami has scored more than 70 points 12 times this season and posted an 11-1 record when doing so. On the other hand, Miami is 2-9 when scoring 70 or less. Defensively, the RedHawks are 9-2 when restricting the opposition to 70 or fewer points.
REVERSING A TREND: One of the keys to Miami's success in MAC play has been its ability to win the turnover battle. Entering MAC play, Miami ranked 11th in the MAC in turnovers while averaging 22.0 miscues per game. The Red and White, which led the league in turnover margin a year ago, was further struggling with a turnover margin of -2.1, which ranked 10th in the league.
It's been a different story since the start of MAC play, as the RedHawks have maintained a turnover margin of +3.6 in league action. Miami is forcing a whopping 22.1 turnovers a game versus MAC foes, while committing 18.5 miscues. Overall, Miami ranks fourth in the MAC in turnover margin (+0.87).
SCHWEGMANN LOST FOR THE SEASON: Miami freshman Katie Schwegmann (Melbourne, Ky./Bishop Brossart), who was coming into her own after back-to-back solid shooting days versus Ohio (Jan. 12) and Kent State (Jan. 15), will miss the rest of the season after suffering a lateral meniscus tear in her right knee last Saturday versus Northern Illinois. Schwegmann was averaging 11.2 minutes per game as an off-guard for the Red and White. She tallied 10 points in Miami's Jan. 12 defeat of Ohio.
BODIES WORKING OVERTIME: Overtime has been paying better than time and a half for Miami over the past three seasons. The RedHawks' thrilling Nov. 28 defeat of Valparaiso extended Miami's string of overtime victories to four consecutive. No current Miami player has lost a collegiate overtime game, and head coach Maria Fantanarosa has not lost an overtime contest since a 1998 loss at Buffalo.
CUSICK AND DAY REAP MAC HONORS: Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) and Colleen Day (Independence, Ohio/Holy Name) have wasted little time in grabbing the attention of their peers this season. Cusick was honored as the MAC East Division Player of the Week on Dec. 3 after averaging 22.5 points per game in wins over Valparaiso and Butler. Versus Valparaiso, Cusick drained a game-tying 3-point field goal as time expired and later hit a clinching jump shot in overtime. Cusick earned the honor again after leading Miami to a 2-0 MAC start on Jan. 7.
Day was honored as the MAC's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Dec. 10 after averaging 16.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as Miami defeated Kentucky and tumbled at Clemson. She owns a 3.89 GPA in English and secondary education. Day was named the MAC's East Division Player of the Week after recording a double-double versus Detroit on December 15. On Jan. 14, Day was honored again when she earned East Division Player of the Week honors for the second time.
During head coach Maria Fantanarosa's tenure, Miami has claimed MAC Player or Scholar-Athlete of the week honors a total of 16 times.
LANCASTER NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MAC: One year removed from a remarkable freshman campaign in which she averaged 14.9 points per game and earned honorable mention all-MAC, MAC all-Freshman and MAC all-Tournament honors, sophomore forward Kim Lancaster (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) was honored this past October as one of five players named to the preseason all-MAC team. Lancaster burst onto the collegiate scene a year ago, setting a RedHawk freshman record with 432 points. The forward set a Miami single-game record with 40 points versus Ball State in the MAC Quarterfinals.
POWER OF YOUTH: With no scholarship seniors on a team that returns all five of its starters from last season, Miami is undoubtedly one of the youngest veteran teams in the nation. Last season, head coach Maria Fantanarosa gave 124 of a possible 145 starts, or 86 percent, to her sophomore and freshmen classes. Miami's underclassmen also accounted for 4,609 of 5,875 minutes played, or 78 percent. During the 1999-2000 campaign, Miami's freshman class-the current junior class-made an instant impact, amassing 1,906 of a possible 5,625 minutes, or 34 percent of the team's total playing time.
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