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Feb. 18, 2002
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REDHAWKS LOOK TO STAY HOT VERSUS MARSHALL: Riding its first winning streak in more than month, Miami University's women's basketball team (14-10, 8-5 MAC) aims to make it three in a row Tuesday night when it hosts a Marshall University team (8-16, 3-9 MAC) that is riding a two-game winning streak of its own.
Since losing 10 of its first 12 league games, Marshall has regained its balance over the past two games, rolling to consecutive wins over Buffalo (55-35) on Feb. 13 and Bowling Green (56-43) on Feb. 16. The key for the Thundering Herd's recent turnaround has been a defense that has held the opposition to under 60 points in its last three games and 50 points over the past two. Marshall's smothering defense held Buffalo and Bowling Green to less than 26 percent shooting from the field over the past two wins.
Offensively, the Herd, which is shooting 40 percent from the field and averaging 61.0 points per game, is led by junior transfer Ida Dotson, who is tallying 13.5 points per game. Sophomore guard Andrea Fitzgerald, who led Marshall with 21 points versus BGSU, is averaging 10.5 points per game.
Coached by first-year mentor Royce Chadwick, who previously guided a successful Stephen F. Austin program, the Thundering Herd is leading the MAC in rebounding margin (+4.7) and offensive rebounding (14.9 rpg).
A LOOK AT THE SERIES: Marshall and Miami meet for the 13th time Tuesday night in a series that has been dominated by the RedHawks since Marshall's return to the MAC in 1997. Miami has reeled off nine consecutive victories over the Herd and holds a 10-2 overall series advantage. Head coach Maria Fantanarosa owns a perfect 8-0 record in her eight coaching appearances versus the Herd.
THE LAST MEETING: Miami ended a four-game losing streak with a solid all-around effort on Feb. 2, handing Marshall a 79-49 defeat on its home floor. Following a slow start for both teams, Miami surged to an 8-1 lead and would never trail. The RedHawks, who led 34-22 at halftime, built their advantage to 20 early in the second half, and used a strong defensive effort that forced 27 turnovers and held Marshall to 30 percent shooting from the field to prevent a Herd comeback. Heather Cusick and Kim Smith led Miami by providing a strong outside-inside tandem. Cusick netted 19 points and swiped five steals, while Smith poured in a career-best 19 points off of 8-of-11 shooting. Marshall was led by Au'Yana Ferguson who cleared 11 rebounds and netted nine points.
MILLETT MAGIC: Miami, which has won 14 of its last 17 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, host Marshall Tuesday and Ohio Saturday and also have guaranteed themselves a home game in the first round of the 2002 MAC Tournament.
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 34-27 (.557) overall league record. Miami has risen to the occasion when it's come to divisional play over the past four seasons, posting an impressive 27-10 (.730) record. Overall, Miami has turned away 14 of its last 15 MAC East foes in the regular season and had won 12 straight until a Jan. 26 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 8-17 (.20) versus the MAC West over the past four seasons and had lost 10 consecutive road games to MAC West foes until a 64-57 win at Central Michigan on Feb. 16.
LOOKING BACK: Miami overcame a first-half deficit and won back-to-back games for the first time in more than a month, edging Central Michigan 64-57. Junior Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) hit 9-of-13 shots from the field and led all scorers with 24 points. Previously, Miami defeated Bowling Green, 72-61, in a game that featured a combined 48 turnovers on Feb. 9. Complete recaps and boxscores of these and all Miami games are found on pages 15-22.
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.
SENIOR SALUTE: Prior to Tuesday night's contest, Miami's women's basketball team will pause to recognize two individuals that have made substantial contributions to the program over the past several years. Senior guard Karla Lockhart (West Chester, OH/Lakota East), Miami's lone senior player, is a three-year member of the squad, who walked on prior to the 1999-2000 season. She has seen action in a career-best 11 games this season. Also being honored is senior manager Mike Cifuentas, who has been with the program for two seasons.
HERD BUSTER: Coming off one of her betting shooting performances of the season versus Central Michigan last Saturday, Miami's Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) looks to build some momentum Tuesday versus a Marshall program she has enjoyed a lot of success against. Through seven career games with the Thundering Herd, Cusick has scored in double digits all seven times and cleared the 20-point barrier four times. Overall, Cusick has averaged 19.0 points per game versus Marshall during her career.
REDHAWKS CLINCH HOME COURT FOR FIRST ROUND: With three games to play, Miami has already guaranteed itself the right to host a first-round MAC Tournament game for the third consecutive season. Though an outside chance still technically exists for Miami to finish in the top three and clinch a first-round bye, a more realistic picture has the RedHawks finishing somewhere between fourth and seventh in the final MAC standings. By winning out, Miami can finish as high as fourth with two Western Michigan losses or as high as fifth with losses by Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan. If the RedHawks were to lose their final three, they would finish no lower than eighth.
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 11-6 (.647) 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 have already won the first two of their final five games and play all of their final three games against opponents they have already beaten this year.
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 seven league wins, Miami has blistered the nets, draining 231-of-465 (.497) field goal attempts. The RedHawks also have knocked down 43 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 55 percent of her field goal attempts and 47 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.
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 247 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 28 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. With the MAC season winding down, Cusick has emerged as a strong candidate for the league's player of the year award. As of Feb. 18, Cusick ranked among the MAC's leaders in eight of a possible 12 categories. Cusick leads the league in points (17.7) and steals (2.96) per game, while ranking second in assists (5.58 apg) and 3-point field goals per game (2.75). In MAC play, Cusick is averaging a league-best 18.5 points per game, which is 2.0 points per game better than her nearest competitor.
20-POINT DIVA: With a 24-point outing versus Central Michigan on Feb. 16, Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) has surpassed all-time leading scorer Monica Niemann (1991-95) for first-place in Miami's career annals with 22 career 20-point games. Cusick cleared the 20-point barrier six times as a freshman and seven times as a sophomore. This season, she has tied a Miami record by tallying at least 20 points nine times.
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 81 games of her collegiate career thus far and has made a remarkable 78 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 (63-of-81) 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 1,175 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), field goals made (9th-393) and free throws made (10th-199), she could finish her career ranked among Miami's career Top 10 in 10-of-13 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 on Feb. 9, 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's 424 points currently rank as the sixth-highest single-season point total in Miami history. The junior could become the first Miamian since Linda Mallender in 1983 to lead the MAC in scoring.
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 14 contests. Kozlowski, who has drained three or more treys six times in league play, had hit 26 3-pointers over the past 15 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: After an impressive start, Miami's Colleen Day (Independence, Ohio/Holy Name) has been slumping over the past month. 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 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while hitting a dismal 31 percent of her shots from the field.
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 14 games in which Lancaster has cleared the double-figure plateau, she is averaging 14.9 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 53 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 on Feb. 2 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-98 (.592) shots from the field while becoming Miami's most consistent finisher in the paint.
DEPTH PERCEPTION: The bench is becoming a 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 six games. Much of Miami's situation can be blamed on the RedHawks having no senior class, the result of 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 10-2 record this season when their bench outscores the opposition's reserves. On the contrary, Miami is 4-8 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 11.8 steals a game through 24 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 2.96 steals a contest, and Colleen Day (Independence, Ohio/Holy Name), who rates third in the MAC at 2.46 steals a game. Cusick, who has recorded at least one steal in 62 straight games, cracked Miami's career Top 10 with two steals versus Eastern Michigan (Jan. 23) and became the eighth player in Miami history to surpass 200 steals on Feb. 16 at Central Michigan.
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 next seven games, however, the RedHawks 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 15 times in 24 games. The RedHawks are 11-4 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 3-9 when scoring 70 or less. Defensively, the RedHawks are 10-2 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 MAC-best turnover margin of +3.6 in league action. Miami is forcing a whopping 21.5 turnovers a game versus MAC foes, while committing 18.0 miscues. Overall, Miami ranks third in the MAC in turnover margin (+0.96).
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.
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 7-7 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 14-17 road record during head coach Maria Fantanarosa's tenure.
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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