Nov. 7, 2008
FIRST LOOK: Sunday's exhibition game against the Hoosier Lady Stars is the first chance for fans to see the 2008-09 Miami RedHawks women’s basketball team. Miami is coming off a 23-11 season, which was capped off with a win in the MAC Tournament Championship and the team’s first NCAA Tournament bid.
OPPONENT: The Hoosier Lady Stars are a collection of former college basketball players with roots in the state of Indiana. The team is organized by Hoosier Basketball Magazine editor Garry Donna. Two of Miami’s all-time great players will be on today’s roster, Heather Cusick and 2008 graduate Laura Markwood.
Cusick (1999-2003) is one of only two RedHawks’ to have her jersey retired. Her 1,728 points ranks second on the Miami career list. She is the only player in MAC history to amass 1,700 points, 500 assists, 400 rebounds, 300 steals and 200 three-point field goals.
Markwood (2004-08) was a key member of last year’s run to the NCAA Tournament. She ranks fifth on the RedHawks’ career list with 767 rebounds.
2008-09 WHAT RETURNS: Seven letterwinners return from last year’s NCAA Tournament squad. They include senior guard Jenna Schone, a second team All-MAC selection last season, senior guard Ashley Hawkins, senior center Jaclyn Leininger, junior guard Courtney Reed, junior forward Ashleigh Brown, sophomore guard Briana Dunlap and sophomore forward Michele Weynandt. Together they represent 55.5 percent of all points, 57.6 percent of all rebounds and 71.2 percent of all assists recorded last season.
|
|
 |
A LOT OF NEW FACES: Seven newcomers join the RedHawks this season, although two of them are very familiar faces. Senior forward Jaclyn Leininger makes her return after missing last season with injury, as does redshirt freshman Michelle Oswalt. They are joined by a strong group of five freshmen that includes guards Maggie Boyer and Ariel Thomas, as well as forwards Rachael Hencke, Lillian Pitts and Erin Wisner.
PRESEASON PICKS: Miami was picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference East Division in the annual preseason poll, behind Bowling Green. The Falcons were also selected as the team to beat in the MAC Tournament. Ball State was picked to win the MAC West Division. Schone was picked as a member of the preseason All-MAC East Team.
FIRST GAME: The RedHawks will open their season on Friday, Nov. 14 when they travel to Eastern Illinois for an 8 p.m. game. Miami opens the home portion of the schedule on Saturday, Nov. 22 against IPFW at noon.
|
|
||
| MuRedHawks.com WEB | ||
