Oct. 25, 2003

OXFORD, Ohio-With the defense of its 2002-03 Mid-American Conference East Division Championship at stake, Miami University's women's basketball team has hit the floor running in the week since practice officially began.

While the RedHawks are faced with a substantial challenge in replacing a graduated senior class that included three starters, head coach Maria Fantanarosa has made it clear that the focus this season is on what the RedHawks have and not what they lost.

"With the departure of those three seniors, a lot of players have really stepped up and are looking to become go-to players," Fantanarosa said. "This has made for very competitive practices and a focused team."

Leading that charge on the court are returning senior starters Colleen Day and Melanie Kozlowski, who have stepped to the forefront and become vocal leaders for the Red and White.

"Our captains have been very vocal, which is keeping the energy level high at all of our practices," Fantanarosa said. "They've taken responsibility for this team and are setting a great example for the team."

While Day is in her third season as a team captain, Kozlowski is in her first season in the role, which she says entails a lot of responsibility.

"You really have to work on maintaining your composure, because if a leader on a team breaks down, it can have a domino effect on the rest of the team," Kozlowski said. "We try to just lead by example and maintain a positive attitude regardless of the situation. I'm enjoying the role."

While the returning players have made a smooth transition into the 2003-04 campaign, Fantanarosa also credits a fast-learning freshman class for helping keep the team on track.

"Our freshmen are really coming along quickly," Fantanarosa said. "Amanda Jackson is already playing like a sophomore, and Sarah Hull is probably the hardest working freshman I've ever had. Mady has a lot of questions and is very focused on learning our system. Because of our freshmen working so hard, the whole team has been able to stay on track."

While the leadership and development of the freshman class have been highlights, injuries have posed a challenge for the RedHawks, who presently have five of their 12 players listed on the injury report.

"Injuries have definitely been an obstacle for us," Fantanarosa said. "It's a lot more of a challenge for the coaching staff to try out different combinations, and the players can't always get enough time on the court together to gain confidence as a unit."

Regardless, Fantanarosa stated that the players are finding their roles within the team and rapid progress is being made.

"As the players continue to find their roles within the team, our focus can move on to developing team chemistry and playing unselfishly," Fantanarosa said. "We've had a great first week of practice and the hard work the team is putting forth is going to pay off."

While the team ultimately has visions of defending its MAC East title and extending the success of the program during the upcoming season, Kozlowski is quick to admit that it all starts with small steps.

"Right now our goal is just to get better every day, even if it's just each player taking a small step forward with one aspect of their game," Kozlowski said. "A MAC Championship is a realistic goal for this team, and we're looking forward to the upcoming season, but for now we have to take it one step at a time."

The RedHawks have another full week of practice before taking the court on Nov. 2 in an exhibition against Athletes in Action. Miami, which is on an accelerated practice schedule due to its invitation to the Preseason WNIT, tips off the season on Nov. 15 at Michigan.