May 28, 2002
2002-03 Non-Conference Schedule
OXFORD, Ohio - With her emphasis on preparing for an increasingly difficult Mid-American Conference schedule with a challenging preseason, Miami University head women's basketball coach Maria Fantanarosa has announced a rigorous 2002-03 non-conference schedule that is highlighted by six opponents who saw action in the 2002 NCAA or WNIT postseason tournaments.
"As our program has progressed over the past five seasons, I've continued to challenge it with a difficult non-conference schedule," Fantanarosa said. "This season's schedule may be the most difficult since I became head coach. We've got two opponents who easily will rank among the preseason Top 50 as well as a number of other nationally respected opponents who will challenge us to compete at the high level we'll need to match throughout the conference season."
Miami tips of the 2002-03 campaign with a tournament hosted by 2002 WNIT Semifinalist Michigan State from Nov. 23-24. Also competing in the tournament are 2002 WNIT Quarterfinalist Valparaiso and Fresno State. The RedHawks compete in their second tournament less than a week later when they fly to Georgia Tech, a 2002 WNIT qualifier, to compete in a tournament (Nov. 29-30) that also includes Arkansas State and East Tennessee State.
Miami opens its home schedule on Dec. 7 when it hosts area rival Wright State University for the seventh consecutive season. On Dec. 15 Miami travels to Saint Louis University to face the Billikens of Conference USA. The RedHawks return home on Dec. 18 to host a St. Francis (Pa.) team that qualified for the 2002 NCAA Tournament before concluding their pre-Christmas schedule with a trip to Southeastern Conference foe Kentucky on Dec. 21.
After a week off for Christmas break, Miami returns to the hardwood on Dec. 28 when it travels to Butler before returning home on Dec. 30 to host 2002 NCAA qualifier Clemson-the first Atlantic Coast Conference foe to venture into Millett Hall. The Red and White concludes its non-conference schedule on Jan. 3 when it travels to TCU for a stern test against a program that reached the second round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament and finished the season with a Top 25 national ranking.
The 2002-03 RedHawks return all five starters and eight letterwinners from a 2001-02 team that set five-year highs for overall and league wins while advancing to a second straight MAC Semifinal.
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