Feb. 28, 2003
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STREAKING REDHAWKS AND BULLS COLLIDE SATURDAY IN KEY MAC EAST CLASH: With the regular-season winding down, two of the Mid-American Conference's hottest teams collide Saturday afternoon when Miami University (15-10; 10-4 MAC) and the University at Buffalo (16-9; 8-6 MAC) put their respective five-game winning streaks on the line.
Miami, which owns a two-game lead over Buffalo and Kent State entering Saturday's contest, has already clinched at least a share of first-place in the MAC East but can capture the title outright and assure itself of a first-round tournament bye with a win Saturday. The Bulls, however, also have their sights set on a first MAC East Championship and can travel a long way toward that dream with wins over Miami and Kent State in their final two regular-season contests.
Coached by fifth-year mentor Cheryl Dozier, Buffalo enters the game with the league's top field-goal percentage defense (.383) and third-ranked scoring defense (62.3). Over the course of the last four games, Buffalo has been led by the hottest player in the league in senior guard Kate McMeeken Ruscoe, who dropped an average of 24.3 ppg in wins over Western Michigan, Ohio, Central Michigan and Akron. McMeeken-Ruscoe averages a team-high 15.3 ppg on the season and is backed up by the imposing forward duo of juniors Jessica Kochendorfer and Kim Kilpela, who are combining to average 20.4 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Hollie Cook is among the league assist leaders, dishing 5.9 assists an outing and averaging 5.1 ppg.
SERIES HISTORY: Saturday marks the seventh meeting between the RedHawks and the Bulls in a series where Miami maintains a slim 4-2 edge. Buffalo, which joined the MAC for the 1998-99 campaign, claimed two of the first three meetings between the rivals, but Miami has rallied to win the last three games and has not lost to the Bulls since the 2000-01 campaign. Buffalo makes just its third trek to Oxford, where it has split two games with the Red and White. Miami prevailed, 66-60, in Millett Hall last season, and the Bulls won, 68-56, in Oxford in 2001. The teams last clashed on Jan. 25 of this season, when Miami picked up a 50-45 win in Buffalo.
THE LAST MEETING-Miami 50, Buffalo 45 (Jan. 25, 2003): Despite a season-low in points and field goal percentage, Miami launched itself on its first winning streak since November with a 50-45 defeat of Buffalo in the Bulls' Alumni Arena. Sparked by a 10-0 run late in the first half, the RedHawks led by as many as seven and led 23-17 at the half. Buffalo charged back over the first nine minutes of the second half, closing to within a point at 29-28 with 14:12. Over the remainder of the game, Miami would push its advantage back to five points several times only to see another Buffalo rally reduce its edge. The RedHawks refused to break and finally used a Cindi Merrill layup and two Heather Cusick free throws to push the game out of reach. Kim Lancaster led Miami with 10 points, while Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe paced the Bulls with 21 points.
MILLETT MAGIC: The magic of Miami's home court seems to be coming alive just at the right time for the Red and White, which is in the midst of a three-game homestand. The RedHawks have won 21 of their last 28 contests in Millett Hall but are just 5-4 this season. Last year, Miami finished at 10-3 in Millett Hall overall and 6-2 in league play, closing the season with seven consecutive home wins. The RedHawks are 34-11 (.755) at home over the past four seasons and had won 12 consecutive home games versus MAC East opponents until a Feb. 8 loss to Kent State. The Red and White is currently riding a two-game winning streak in Millett Hall.
LOOKING BACK-Miami 84, Ohio 51 (Feb. 26, 2003): In the first defense of its MAC East lead, Miami put forth one of its most dominant performances of the season, thrashing Ohio, 84-51, and extending a seven-game winning streak over its arch rival. The RedHawks, who would never trail, scored the first six points of the game and pressed their advantage in double-digits early in the first half. Miami led by 17 points, 39-22, at the half but was just getting started. The RedHawks shot a smoldering 65 percent from the field and forced a whopping 17 turnovers in the second half, while pressing their advantage into the 30's for the first time since a December 110-69 defeat of Wright State. All 11 RedHawks found the scoring column on the night, including four who tallied in double figures. Colleen Day, who scored in double digits for the sixth straight game, poured in a RedHawk-high 13 points, while Heather Cusick enjoyed a brilliant all-around outing of 12 points, seven steals and six assists.
LOOKING AHEAD: Miami's women's basketball team concludes the 2002-03 regular-season on Tuesday, March 4, when it hosts the Marshall University Thundering Herd in what could be the RedHawks' most important game in more than a decade. Along with attempting to extend a 11-game winning streak over the Herd, Miami will be looking to lock up its first MAC East Division Championship. The RedHawks also will be honoring the senior class of Jana Butler, Heather Cusick and Beth Roederer, which has played a tremendous role in the turnaround of the Miami program over the past four seasons. Tip-off is scheduled at 7 p.m. for this potentially historic night in Miami women's basketball history.
A TALE OF TWO DIVISIONS:In her fifth MAC season, Maria Fantanarosa is working to build upon a 47-31 (.603) league record. Miami has risen to the occasion in divisional play over the past four years, posting a 35-11 (.761) record. Overall, Miami has turned away 23 of its last 25 MAC East opponents during the regular season, including this year's 6-1 mark.
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 5-2 start this February and on a five-game winning streak, Miami has been right in line with its recent trend of strong finishes. 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. Miami has never had a losing month of February under Fantanarosa.
ON THE RISE: With its defeat of Ohio this past Wednesday, Miami achieved its 10th league win for the third consecutive season. Since the current senior class took to the floor as freshmen in 1999-2000, Miami has improved its league record every season, winning nine games in 1999-2000, 10 games in 2000-01 and 11 games in 2001-02. By winning its last two games, Miami can improve once again and guarantee its highest-league win total since the MAC returned to a 16-game schedule in 1998-99. Since MAC play began in 1981-82, Miami has won 10 or more league games 12 times. In 11 seasons with a 16-game league schedule, only two prior Miami teams have been able to win 12 or more games.
THE VIEW FROM ON TOP: With just two regular-season contests remaining, Miami has placed itself in a position it has not known since the start of divisional play in 1997-98-in first-place in the MAC East in the month of March. In fact, Miami has not been poised atop a MAC race this late in the season since its last MAC regular-season championship in 1989-90. Since its last MAC title, Miami has never been closer than two games behind the league or East Division championship in the final standings. Since starting MAC play during the 1981-82 campaign, Miami has claimed a total of three MAC regular-season titles, including the first two in 1981-82 and 1982-83. Since its quick start, however, Miami has raised just one championship banner in the last 18 years, including its current drought of 11 years.
THE RACE IS ON: Already guaranteed at least a share of the MAC East title, Miami is within one win of clinching sole possession of the MAC East Championship. Currently two games in front of both Buffalo and Kent State, Miami can win the East outright by defeating either Buffalo or Marshall in its final two games. The RedHawks also have an outside shot of forcing a tie for the overall conference lead, needing two wins and a loss each by Ball State and Toledo. The RedHawks can do no better than the No. 2 seed in the MAC Tournament, however, as it has lost head-to-head games with both Ball State and Toledo. Miami, which has clinched at least a home game for the first round of the MAC Tournament, can finish no worse in the tournament pairings than as the No. 5 seed. For more information how the MAC Tournament is shaping up, check out page eight.
BYE, BYE, REDHAWKS: After hosting first-round MAC Tournament games in each of the past three seasons, Miami is on the verge of earning its first postseason bye since the MAC Tournament expanded to include all 13 teams. With one more win, the RedHawks can pave their way directly to the MAC Quarterfinals in Cleveland on March 12 by earning the No. 2 seed-the top three seeds earn first-round byes. If the Red and White drops its last two games and finishes in a tie for the MAC East title, it can still earn the bye through an array of tiebreakers that essentially boils down to Buffalo defeating Kent State on March 4 and Northern Illinois finishing ahead of Western Michigan in the final league standings.
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