Miami Hosts Kent State in Important Early MAC Game
1/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
OXFORD, Ohio - Miami hosts Kent State Saturday in a game that will be broadcast live on ONN. This is also the Mid-American Conference home opener for the RedHawks. It will immediately be followed by the men's game against Akron at 4 p.m.
CARNIVAL ON THE CONCOURSE - Bring the whole family out to the Millett Hall concourse between the women's and men's games to enjoy entertainment, face painting, balloon animals by Goldie the Clown, and a 10 foot tall stilt walker. Also, see how you "Measure Up" to Miami Basketball with an interactive display.
Don't miss the always entertaining King's Firecrackers, who will perform at halftime of the men's game!
FACING THE DIVISION: The format of the MAC Tournament places a premium against teams in your own division. Teams are seeded one though six based on their division finish without regard to the records of the other division. Miami is currently in a five-game stretch where it plays each of its division rivals for the first time. The RedHawks follow that up with six games against the teams from the West Division, and close MAC play with five rematches against the division opponents. Last year's 12-4 record featured a 7-3 record against teams from the East Division. Bowling Green won the East Division with a 13-3 record last season and earned the top seed in the MAC Tournament. Miami earned the East Division's second seed and went on to win the tournament.
REBOUND AND WIN: Head Coach Maria Fantanarosa has emphasized a renewed commitment to rebounding after the last several games in which the RedHawks were outrebounded by double digits. That payed off in Miami's last game as the RedHawks outrebounded Akron 43-31 in a 20-point win. Miami is 4-0 this season when outrebounding opponents, while only 5-5 when getting boarded. The RedHawks currently are being have a rebounding margin of -1.9 (37.1-39.0).
LAST GAME: Five players finished in double figures as Miami University opened Mid-American Conference play with an 83-63 win over Akron Wednesday night. Miami improves to 9-5 overall, while the Zips fall to 5-9.
Making her first career start, freshman forward Erin Wisner scored the RedHawks' first two baskets off rebound layups. With Miami leading 14-13 early, a 9-0 run led by six points from Courtney Reed and a three-point basket from Jenna Schone gave the RedHawks a 10 point advantage with 12:11 remaining in the first half.
After trading baskets for the next six minutes, Miami found itself ahead 31-21 with 6:22 to go. A layup by Lillian Pitts and a jumper from Schone keyed a 7-0 run that gave the RedHawks their largest lead at 17. Akron closed the half on a 6-3 run, and Miami went into the breaking winning 41-27. Reed finished the half with 14 points to lead Miami. The RedHawks shot 47 percent (15-for-32) during the first half.
Jaclyn Leininger and Maggie Boyer each hit jumpers as Miami started the second half on a 12-4 run that increased its lead to 53-31. Akron was able to hit free throws to get as close as 16 with 10:45 remaining, but a 14-7 run by the RedHawks put them up 77-54 with 5:41 remaining, which was more than enough as Miami came away with the 83-63 win.
Reed led the way with a career high tying 19 points. Schone had 14, while Wisner scored a career high 13. Leininger and Boyer each had 11 points. Miami outrebounded the Zips 43-31 and shot 47.6 percent for the game (30-for-63).
ABOUT KENT STATE: Kent State has had a spectacular start to its season with an 11-2 record. It has defeated solid teams such as defending Horizon League champion Cleveland State 84-77 (Dec. 6) and Vermont, 77-71 (Dec. 14) along the way. The Golden Flashes did fall in their MAC opener 77-71 to Bowling Green on Wednesday. Kent State is led by preseason All-MAC selection Anna Kowalska, who tops the team in both points per game (18.5) and rebounds (8.5). Two other players average in double figures -- freshman guard Jena Stutzman (10.5 points per game) and sophomore guard Jamilah Humes (10.0). As a team, the Golden Flashes average 75.3 points per contest.
SERIES HISTORY: In one of the most competitive long-term rivalries Miami has, Kent State leads the series 35-34. The RedHawks broke a seven-game losing streak to the Golden Flashes last year with two victories. On Jan. 12, 2008, the Miami defeated Kent State 64-59 in Kent, Ohio. It was the first victory for the RedHawks on the road in the series since 2003. Miami followed it up with a 76-59 win in Oxford on Feb. 27, 2008. Laura Markwood led the way with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
UP NEXT FOR THE REDHAWKS: An important two-game conference road trip looms for the RedHawks next week. On Wednesday, Miami travels to Bowling Green for a 7 p.m. game against the preseason favorite Falcons. On Sat. Jan. 17, the RedHawks will make the long trip up to Buffalo for a matinee against the Bulls. Miami returns home on Wed. Jan. 21 for a special 1 p.m. game against Ohio. The RedHawks are hosting Talawanda Elementary School for the first annual "Class at the Court" event.
