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Feb. 20, 2003
Complete Game Notes in PDF Format
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MIAMI AND KENT STATE CLASH FOR MAC EAST LEAD SUNDAY: Riding a three-game winning streak and tied for the Mid-American Conference East Division lead, Miami University's women's basketball team attempts to put itself in the driver's seat for its first MAC East title Sunday afternoon when it battles Kent State University. The game tips off at 4 p.m. and will be televised by Fox Sports Ohio as the MAC Game of the Week.
Miami (13-10; 8-4 MAC) has not lost since dropping a 61-60 home contest to Kent State (13-10; 8-4 MAC) on Feb. 8. By virtue of a 73-70 decision over Central Michigan and a Kent State loss at Marshall this past Wednesday, the RedHawks are even with the Golden Flashes in the standings for the first time since a Feb. 3 loss at Ball State. Miami is looking to become the first team other than Kent State, which has earned the last five MAC East Championships, to win an East Division title.
Mentored by 14th-year head coach Bob Lindsay, the Golden Flashes are led by the senior trio of Jamie Rubis, Valerie Zona and Katalin Kollat. Rubis is averaging 16.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while Zona is contributing 13.8 points and 2.7 assists an outing and Kollat is adding 9.3 points and 5.8 rebounds a contest. In Miami's Feb. 8 loss to the Flashes, the trio combined for a remarkable 55 of KSU's 61 points. As a team, the Golden Flashes are doing much of their damage from the free throw line, averaging 22.0 trips to the charity stripe per game and hitting a league-best .788 of their efforts.
Along with the hype that surrounds a televised game that will decide the division lead, Kent State is further driving up the ante with its "Pack the M.A.C.C." promotion, which aims to break the MAC regular-season attendance record of 5,660.
SERIES HISTORY: Sunday marks the 60th meeting between Miami and Kent State in what has become the MAC East's most intense rivalry. Thanks to a pair of lengthy winning streaks in the '80's Miami leads the overall series 31-28, but Kent State has rallied under Bob Lindsay, posting a 22-13 record over the past 14 seasons, including consecutive defeats of the RedHawks in the MAC Semifinals. The Flashes have been dominant at home, winning nine straight over Miami and assembling a 17-6 mark in the M.A.C. Center. Miami's last win in Kent came on Feb. 3, 1993-a 65-63 decision.
THE LAST MEETING-Kent State 61, Miami 60 (Feb. 8, 2003): One game after suffering a heartbreaking setback in overtime at Ball State, Miami endured a similar result in a 61-60 loss to MAC East leader Kent State. Miami led 60-59 and had possession of the ball with eight seconds remaining, but the Golden Flashes' Katalin Kollat intercepted a RedHawk inbounds pass and drew a foul that set up her two dramatic free throws with four seconds left. Trailing by as many as eight early in the second half, Miami rallied from several deficits in the second half and took a one point lead on two Colleen Day free throws with 39 seconds remaining. Miami forced a Golden Flash turnover on what appeared to be Kent State's final possession prior to Kollat's heroics. A complete recap and boxscore of this game can be found on page 27.
ROADHAWKS: The road is becoming an increasingly friendly place for Miami, which actually has a better winning percentage on the road than at home. After a win at Michigan State during its opening weekend, the Red and White dropped five of its next six road games, including its worst losses of the season at TCU and Western Michigan. More recently, however, Miami has reeled off wins in five of its last six road games, including a current two-game winning streak. Miami, which plays 16 of its 27 games this season on the road, owns a 7-6 road record and a 4-4 home mark. Last season, Miami assembled an 8-7 record on the road-its first winning road mark since 1995-96. A win Sunday would guarantee Miami's second consecutive winning road record.
UNFRIENDLY CONFINES: As far as unfriendly confines go, Kent State's M.A.C. Center is about as unfriendly as they come for Miami and the rest of the MAC East. Since divisional play started during the 1997-98 campaign, the Kent State women have hosted 27 MAC East foes during the regular season and notched 27 consecutive victories. Over that same stretch, the Golden Flashes have lost only two of 43 overall MAC games. Miami, which has lost its last nine in the M.A.C. Center, nearly ended the streak on Jan. 27, 2001, but fell, 71-69, when KSU drained two free throws with nine seconds remaining. Last season, Miami fell 62-56 at the M.A.C. Center on Jan. 26, 2002.
PRIDE OF THE EAST: Kent State and Miami, who have finished first and second, respectively, in the East Division over the last four seasons, have had a stranglehold on the Division since 1999-2000. The Golden Flashes have assembled an impressive 34-4 regular-season record against the East over the past four years, while Miami has compiled a 30-7 record. Marshall, which defeated Kent State Wednesday, is the only MAC East team other than Miami to defeat the Golden Flashes since 1999-2000. The Flashes have not lost consecutive decisions to the East since the start of divisional play. Miami has turned away 21 of its last 23 MAC East foes, with both losses come to Kent State.
CUSICK'S KRYPTONITE? Kent State, which has defeated Miami in each of the teams' last three meetings, has been able to succeed, in part, because of its success against Heather Cusick. Despite averaging 16.8 ppg over the past two seasons, Cusick has been held to just 10-of-43 (.233) shooting from the field over her last three meetings with the Flashes and is averaging just 8.3 ppg over the span. The recent trend is a departure from Cusick's first six contests against KSU, in which she averaged 16.7 ppg and netted three 20-point outings. Cusick is coming off a two-game stretch in which she totaled just 19 points-her lowest two-game output since her sophomore season.
LOOKING BACK-Miami 73, Central Michigan 70: Miami notched another hard-fought win last Wednesday, nipping Central Michigan, 73-70, with two Heather Cusick free throws in the last 11 seconds. In a contest that was back-and-forth throughout, Miami trailed by as many as five points with less than 12 minutes to play but rallied with an 8-0 run to lead by three points in the final 3:09. After another Chippewa run, the teams' exchanged baskets and the lead over the final two minutes with Miami finally going ahead for good with 11 seconds remaining after Cusick was fouled going to the basket. The game included a whopping 12 ties and 18 lead changes. Miami was led by five players in double figures, including Beth Roederer and Cindi Merrill, who each poured in 14 points, and Colleen Day, who added a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
NEXT UP: Miami tips off its season-ending three-game homestand versus a trio of MAC East foes with a 7 p.m. contest against Ohio on Feb. 26. The RedHawks own a six-game winning streak versus the arch-rival Bobcats but barely survived an 80-78 overtime scare in Athens on Jan. 14. Ohio has not won in Miami's Millett Hall since the 1997-98 season-a four-game losing streak. The RedHawks round out their season with home bouts versus Buffalo (March 1) and Marshall (March 4).
A TALE OF TWO DIVISIONS: Entering her fifth MAC season, Maria Fantanarosa is working to build upon a 45-30 (.600) league record. Miami has risen to the occasion in divisional play over the past four years, posting a 33-11 (.750) record. Overall, Miami has turned away 21 of its last 23 MAC East opponents during the regular season, including a nine-game winning streak that ended on Feb. 8 against Kent State.
Despite their success versus the East, Fantanarosa's RedHawks have not fared as well when heading West. Miami has gone just 13-20 (.394) versus MAC West opponents over the past five seasons and has lost 12-of-17 MAC West road games. The RedHawks are currently on a run against the West, though, winning their last three meetings and clinching their first winning record against the West Division (4-3) since divisional play started.
FOLLOWING THROUGH: Under head coach Maria Fantanarosa, Miami has made a point of finishing strong. Over the four seasons leading up to this year, the RedHawks have posted a 24-13 (.649) record in the months of February and March. Off to a 3-2 to start this February, recent trends indicate that Miami will only get stronger. The RedHawks won seven straight before bowing out of the MAC Tournament last season, five straight before succumbing in the MAC semifinals in 2000-01 and three consecutive before losing in the MAC Quarterfinals in 1999-2000. Last season, Miami was 6-1 in February.
THE RACE IS ON: With four regular-season contests remaining, Miami continues its quest for a first-ever MAC East Division title. The RedHawks, who enter this weekend tied for the division lead, can put themselves a game up in the standings by defeating Kent State Sunday. If Miami can win its last four games it can clinch sole possession of the East title. Miami currently leads Buffalo by two games in the division standings and can clinch at least its fourth straight MAC East runner-up finish with two wins in its final four. If Miami loses Sunday, it's path becomes much more difficult. Miami would need to win its last three games and hope KSU loses two of its last three games.
A FINE LINE: The difference between winning and losing has been a fine line indeed for Miami's 2002-03 women's basketball team. Through 23 games this season, 11 of Miami's games have been decided by five points or less and 15 have been decided by 10 points or fewer, with all 15 coming down to the final minutes. The RedHawks have forged an 8-7 record in games decided by 10 or fewer points. Miami also has been working its share of overtime, posting a 2-2 record in games that have taken an extra period. Miami's four overtime games this season are a program single-season record. To fully illustrate just how fine the line has been, with a break or two in the closing minutes of those seven losses, the RedHawks could be 20-3 instead of 12-10.
CUSICK BREAKS MIAMI SCORING RECORD: Entering Miami's Feb. 13 contest at Northern Illinois, Miami senior Heather Cusick needed just four points to surpass Monica Niemann (1991-95) as Miami's all-time scoring leader. Cusick, who scored the first four points of the game, broke the record at 18:07 in the first half, draining one of her trademark fallaway jumpshots with a hand in her face. Of 15 career categories tracked by the Miami Athletic Media Relations office, the senior now holds seven of the records and ranks among the Top 10 in three more categories. Cusick presently has 1,641 career points-the 20th-highest total in the MAC.
BITTERSWEET DAY FOR LANCASTER: On a day in which junior Kim Lancaster became only the fourth player in the history of Miami's women's basketball program to reach 1,000 career points during her junior season, the Cincinnati native also suffered the low of a knee injury. Lancaster, who finished with nine points and eight rebounds, captured the record at 14:52 in the second half when she converted a three-point play that put Miami in the lead. She became the 14th overall Miami player to join the elite club and joined teammate Heather Cusick, Monica Niemann (1991-95) and Mary Ann Myers (1978-82) as the only four players to reach 1,000 prior to their senior season. Lancaster sprained her knee while battling for a loose ball with just 37 seconds remaining. She was unable to finish the game and is out indefinitely.
A GREAT DAY: After starting losses versus Ball State and Kent State on the bench, Miami junior Colleen Day has returned to the starting lineup with a vengeance. Over the course of Miami's current three-game winning streak, Day has averaged a team-leading 17.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 52 percent from the field, including 60 percent from 3-point range, and draining all 16 of her free throw attempts.
The junior recorded her second 20-point effort of the season with 21 points at Bowling Green (Feb. 15) and her third double-double of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Central Michigan (Feb. 19). The Independence, Ohio, native, who ranks among the MAC's Top 10 in overall rebounding and offensive rebounding, became the 14th player in Miami history to reach 500 career rebounds last Wednesday against CMU.
TAKING ON THE WORLD: Though Miami's 5-6 non-conference record marked Miami's first sub .500 out-of-league record in four seasons, head coach Maria Fantanarosa stuck with her theory of using the non-conference schedule to prepare the team for league play. Eight of Miami's non-conference opponents rate among the top 150 of 324 NCAA D-I women's basketball programs, according to the Feb. 20 RPI.com rankings, while the average RPI of Miami's 11 out-of-conference foes is a solid 129.6. The average RPI of the 10 teams that have defeated the RedHawks this season is an even more impressive 89.8. Miami is ranked No. 139 in the RPI and No. 115 in the Sagarin ratings.
CHARITY CASES: Miami has been taking advantage of its trips to the charity strip as of late, raising its percentage above .700 for the first time since it was a dismal 4-of-13 from the line in its first game of the season. Over the last four games, the RedHawks have buried 68-of-81 free throw attempts (.840) to raise their season average to .713. Versus Central Michigan (Feb. 19), Miami set a single-game record by burying 20-of-21 (.952) free throws -the highest percentage by a Miami team with at least 20 attempts.
Leading the way have been Colleen Day and Heather Cusick. Day has buried 23 straight, while Cusick has netted 14-of-15. Since the start of MAC play, in which the RedHawks are shooting .758 from the line, Miami has raised its free throw percentage by 46 percent. Miami's 2002-03 roster includes three of the top six players all-time in career free throw percentage: Cusick (4th-.804), Day (5th-.802) and Beth Roederer (6th-.782).
OFFENSE WINS: When the offense is working, everything is working for Miami. Aside from overtime losses at Kentucky and Ball State, Miami is 11-1 this season when scoring at least 70 points and 9-1 when outshooting the opposition from the field. On the flip side, Miami is 1-7 when scoring less than 70 points and 4-9 when being outshot from the field. The RedHawks are averaging 77.2 ppg and shooting 44 percent from the floor and 36 percent from the 3-point arc in their 13 wins. Excluding overtime losses to Ball State and Kentucky, in which it tallied 94 and 102 points, respectively, Miami is averaging just 60.5 points and shooting 36 percent from the floor in its remaining eight losses.
POLISHING THE GLASS: Another important theme in RedHawk wins has been rebounding. Miami, which is averaging 39.0 rebounds per game, ranks third in the MAC in rebounding and fourth in rebounding margin (+0.7). The RedHawks are especially strong on the offensive glass, grabbing 14.7 offensive boards a contest and ranking second in the league. Miami, which is getting nearly 20 percent of its offense from second-chance points, owns a 10-2 record when outrebounding the opposition and just a 3-8 mark when being tied or outrebounded.
LONG-RANGE DIVAS: With a deep arsenal of long-range threats on its roster, Miami has not been shy about launching 3-point field goals. Through 23 games, Miami has fired up 437 treys (19.0) with six players burying at least 11 long-range attempts. Miami's current roster includes four of the top 12 career 3-point shooters in Miami history, including Heather Cusick (1st-219), Melanie Kozlowski (7th-101), Beth Roederer (8th-72) and Colleen Day (12th-45).
Surprisingly, Miami's 3-point attack has faded over its three-game win streak. The RedHawks have fired up just 11.3 treys per game over the last three outing and have netted just 3.0 per game. The Red and White is coming off its worst day from beyond the arc versus Central Michigan (Feb. 19) when it went 1-of-12.
AS THE BALL TURNS: Miami's turnover statistics have had plenty of twists and turns this season. After committing just 93 turnovers, or a respectable 15.5 turnovers per game, through their first six outings, the RedHawks totaled a whopping 117 miscues, or 23.4 per game, through their next five contests. Miami has been solid in MAC play, averaging 13.8 turnovers per outing through the first nine games, but the tide has turned again over the past three games with the RedHawks committing 17.7 miscues per game versus Northern Illinois, Bowling Green and Central Michigan.
Through 22 games, Miami maintains a +2.8 overall turnover margin, which ranks third in the MAC. The RedHawks, who are forcing a league-leading 19.6 turnovers per game are scoring an average of 20.1 ppg off opponent miscues. Miami has won only once this season when committing more turnovers than its opponent.
COMING FROM ALL ANGLES: While Heather Cusick has been Miami's clear scoring leader over the past two seasons, the RedHawk offense is by no means an easy scout. Already this season, eight different RedHawks have tallied in double figures, including seven that have achieved the feat at least five times. Presently, seven RedHawks are averaging at least 6.5 ppg, led by Cusick's 15.9 ppg. This season's team has the luxury of six of the Top 45 scorers in Miami women's basketball history-Cusick (1st-1,641), Kim Lancaster (14th-1,001), Colleen Day (31st-715), Jana Butler (37th-654), Beth Roederer (37th-654) and Melanie Kozlowski (42nd-599).
BIG BENCH PLAY: With 13 scholarship players on her roster, head coach Maria Fantanarosa has the luxury of a deep bench for the first time in her career. Last season, Miami's top five players in terms of minutes averaged 29.7 minutes of playing time-led by Heather Cusick's 37.5 minutes an outing. This season, the top five RedHawks in terms of playing time are averaging 25.4 minutes per game, with only Cusick, who is down more than six minutes a game from last season, averaging more than 30 minutes a game. Miami's bench also has made an impact on the scoreboard, increasing its scoring average from 16.3 ppg last season to 27.3 ppg. Miami's reserves have been held under 22 points only twice this season and have been outscored just three times.
CUSICK AND THE MAC GREATS: Along with etching her name all over the Miami career record books, Heather Cusick also is starting to place her name throughout the Mid-American Conference record book. The senior's 1,641 career points rank 20th in MAC history, while her 219 3-point field goals and 565 assists rank fifth and 10th, respectively. Miami's point guard also has reached the MAC's Top 10 for career steals with 285. Cusick could become the first player in MAC history to amass 1,500 points, 500 assists, 400 rebounds, 300 steals and 200 3-point field goals. She's only the second MAC Player, joining former Toledo standout Kelly Savage (1985-89), to reach both 500 career assists and 200 career 3-point field goals.
STEADY AS THEY COME: When opposing coaches are scouting Miami, they do not have to wonder whether or not point guard Heather Cusick will be on the floor. Cusick, who has played in all 110 games of her collegiate career has started 107 consecutive contests. Opposing teams also can expect Cusick to show up on the stat sheet, where she has scored in double figures in 80 percent (88-of-110) of her career games and notched 31 outings of 20 points or more. Cusick also has dished an assist in 80 straight games and has only been held scoreless once in 110 contests. The senior has made a steal in 90 of the last 91 contests-a 78-game streak ended at TCU on Jan. 3.
CLUTCH PERFORMER: Miami senior Beth Roederer has demonstrated the poise of a true veteran during a recent string of tight games. In Miami's dramatic comeback defeat of Eastern Michigan, Roederer drained a backbreaking 24-foot 3-pointer in overtime to lift Miami to the win. The senior followed up with another clutch overtime trey at Ball State, but the five-point cushion it provided was not enough. On Feb. 13 Roederer hit a critical layup at Northern Illinois that put Miami in front, 61-60, with less than two minutes to play and later iced to free throws to put the game out of reach. Roederer scored 14 second-half points in leading Miami to a come-from-behind win at Bowling Green on Feb. 15 and drained still another key 3-pointer with under five minutes to play in Miami's defeat of Central Michigan last Wednesday. She is averaging 9.8 ppg over the past six outings.
BUTLER'S BLOCK PARTY: After averaging fewer than 10 blocks a season over her first three years in the Miami Red and White, senior center Jana Butler has emerged as a shot blocking threat during her senior season. Through 23 games, Butler already has swatted 21 shots, including four contests with three rejections each. The senior presently ranks 12th all-time at Miami with 49 career blocked shots. She ranks fourth in the MAC this season.
NOT JUST ANOTHER SMITH: In the absence of fellow forward Kim Lancaster, who is out with a knee injury, sophomore Kim Smith rose to the occasion Wednesday night against Central Michigan. Smith led Miami during a key first-half stretch, netting eight straight points and finishing with a season-high 12 points off 6-of-9 shooting. Arguably the most athletic player in the history of the program, Smith earned 14 varsity letters in four different sports as a prep and bench presses well over 200 lbs.
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