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Nov. 20, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami women’s basketball team has its home openers Saturday when they welcome IPFW to Millett Hall for a noon tipoff. The game can be heard on the Miami Sports Network, which can be found at this link: Miami Sports Network

STORYLINES

1. UP AHEAD: Miami looks to get back on track as it hosts IPFW in its home opener Saturday afternoon. It is the first of two straight non-conference games at Millett Hall, as the RedHawks will host La Salle on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.

2. HOME OPENERS: The RedHawks are 20-14 all-time in home openers at Millett Hall. They have won 14 of their past 16 home openers. Last season, Miami defeated Radford 74-67, as part of a WNIT Tournament pod in its home opener.

3. STRONG DEBUTS: It was an impressive debut for three players who did not play during last year’s MAC Championship run. Jaclyn Leininger (Winona Lake, Ind.) showed no ill effects of missing over a year of action due to a knee injury when she led the team with 17 points and six rebounds in the 82-74 loss against Eastern Illinois. She hit several tough jump shots during a run that saw the RedHawks reduce a 14-point lead down to one point. Freshmen Maggie Boyer (Lebanon, Ind.) and Erin Wisner (Solon, Ohio) each were strong in their first collegiate games. Boyer tied for the team lead in scoring with 17 points, shooting 7-for-12. She included a 3-for-6 performance from three-point range. Wisner came off the bench and provided significant help to the post position that was suffering from foul trouble. She led the team with seven rebounds in only 16 minutes of action.

LAST WEEK: The RedHawks went 0-1 last week, falling 82-74 at Eastern Illinois on Friday. Miami overcame double-digit deficits twice in the game, pulling as close as one point, but could not overcome 35 foul calls that allowed the Panthers to shoot 48 free throws. Four players fouled out for Miami during the game. Jaclyn Leininger and Maggie Boyer led the RedHawks with 17 points each. Leininger was playing in her first game in over a year since a serious knee injury caused her to miss the 2007-08 season. She shot 7-for-12 and also had six rebounds. Boyer, a freshman guard, had an impressive debut, shooting 6-for-12, including 3-for-6 from three-point range. Courtney Reed had 15 points, while Jenna Schone contributed eight points and six assists. Miami shot .409 for the game, but allowed Eastern Illinois to shoot .535. The RedHawks had 15 steals, the most since they recorded 17 against Central Michigan on Feb. 2, 2008.

ABOUT IPFW: IPFW is 0-2 so far this season. It dropped its season opener 64-44 to Illinois on Nov. 14 and then fell 72-56 to Butler on Tuesday. Last season, the Mastodons went 12-18 overall and 9-9 in the Summit League. They return nine letterwinners and three starters off that squad. Early on this season, the leading scorer has been freshman guard Anne Boese, who has come off the bench twice to average 10.0 points per game. Rebounding has been an issue for IPFW as they are currently only averaging 28 boards per game and are being outrebounded an average of 15.5 board per game.

SERIES HISTORY: This is the second meeting all-time between Miami and IPFW. Last season, the Mastodons defeated the RedHawks 79-74 in overtime in Fort Wayne. Miami was in foul trouble throughout the contest, and star guard Amanda Jackson fouled out with a minute to go in regulation. In overtime, IPFW held the RedHawks to just two free throws, while scoring seven points itself to seal the victory. Jackson led Miami with 22 points, while Laura Markwood chipped in 15. Stephanie Ford recorded a career-high 16 rebounds during the game.

MIAMI VS. SUMMIT LEAGUE: The RedHawks are a mere 4-1 against Summit League schools, having only faced three of the current 10 members of the league. The loss comes against Saturday’s opponent IPFW. Miami is 3-0 against IUPUI, including two wins last season. The RedHawks other Summit League victory came against Western Illinois in 1981. Miami has never faced Centenary, UMKC, North Dakota State, Oakland, Oral Roberts, South Dakota State or Southern Utah.

UP NEXT FOR REDHAWKS: Thanksgiving week will be busy for Miami as they host La Salle on Tuesday, Nov. 25, before traveling to Wake Forest for a game against the ACC’s Demon Deacons on Saturday, Nov. 29.