 |
 |
|
Nov. 5, 2002
OXFORD, Ohio-With three weeks of practice behind it, Miami University's women's basketball team has seen plenty to be excited about for the upcoming 2002-03 season. However, as head coach Maria Fantanarosa attests, a rash of injuries to the RedHawks' interior game have left a lot still to be seen.
"We've had a lot of obstacles to overcome with injuries and illnesses afflicting our inside players, and that's taken away from our focus," Fantanarosa said. "It's made practice challenging in that we've got a lot of guards having to play forward and forwards having to play center."
Among the injuries and illnesses holding back the RedHawks less than three weeks from the start of the regular season are knee injuries to junior Colleen Day and sophomore Kim Smith, a shoulder injury to junior Kim Lancaster, a back injury to freshman April Lux and cases of mono that have affected Smith and freshman Amber Miller.
"On a positive note, none of the injuries are season threatening, and we're beginning to get some of the players back on a limited basis," Fantanarosa said. "We're still questioning our depth, though, and that's really come full circle with all the injuries and illnesses."
Despite the shortage of healthy post players, Fantanarosa and the RedHawks are moving forward in their plans for a successful 2002-03 campaign.
"We're working on extending our defense and continuing to develop confidence offensively," Fantanarosa said. "Confidence is very high on this team, and I feel good about the development of the individuals and team even since the trip to Europe this summer."
Entering her fifth season as the head coach at Miami, Fantanarosa has been able to draw from the luxury of a senior class that, for the first time, has spent four years in her program.
"Jana Butler has improved her strength and confidence, Beth Roederer has shown tremendous determination in every drill and Heather Cusick is very focused on the task at hand," Fantanarosa said. "This is a senior class that doesn't want anything handed to it. They want to do the work and earn the respect of their peers."
According to Fantanarosa, the experienced and hungry group of upperclassmen has even made her job easier.
"Practices are fun to coach because I don't have to be the lone voice holding the team accountable for keeping the intensity up," Fantanarosa said. "Both the juniors and seniors have been very vocal about keeping practices at game speed. That example has picked up the intensity level of the entire team. There's a definite sense of urgency on this team to win a MAC title."
The RedHawks take to the court for the first time in public on Nov. 14 when Miami matches up with the Ohio Girls Basketball Magazine (OGBM) Legends at 7 p.m. in exhibition action.
|
|
 |
|
|
||
| MuRedHawks.com WEB | ||
