Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami Opens MAC Play, Hosts NIU Saturday
12/29/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
TV: ESPN3 - Steve Baker (PxP) and Lindsay Justus (Color)
ON TAP: The RedHawks open Mid-American Conference play against a good Northern Illinois team on Saturday with a 1 p.m. tip inside Millett Hall. The contest is Heroes Day where we honor both veteran and active members of the military as well as first responders (Heroes). In addition to several pregame and in-game highlights, Heroes and their guests will receive a special $3 rate with a valid ID with one of our hero groups. It also is Heroes Night at hockey on Saturday with a $20 reserved seat ticket price for Heroes for the 5 p.m. game. For those who cannot make it to basketball, the game will air live on ESPN3 and can be listened to live on the Miami IMG Sports Network with a subscription.
LAST TIME OUT: Miami put forth a dominant defensive performance in its last contest, back on Dec. 21 at home against Florida A&M. The RedHawks allowed nine total points in the middle two quarters en route to a 73-33 drubbing of the Rattlers. Kendall McCoy finished with a game-high 18 points to go with four rebounds and a career-high five assists. Lauren Dickerson posted 11 points to record her 22nd-straight double-figure scoring output. The 33 points Miami allowed where its fewest since holding Chicago State to 39 points in a 55-39 victory on Nov. 16, 2013.
ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Like Miami, the Huskies enter Saturday with a 8-3 record on the year. Most recently, NIU split a pair of games at the Puerto Rico Classic on Dec. 20-21. It opened with a 84-75 victory over Sacramento State before falling to Albany, 97-91. NIU and Miami did not face any common opponents in non-conference play. The Huskies average an impressive 83.2 points per game while allowing 76.1 points an outing. NIU posseses four players who average double figures, led by junior Courtney Woods who puts up 19.5 points per game. Mikayla Vogt (16.0 ppg), Kelly Smith (15.7 ppg) and Janae Poisson (10.8 ppg) round out the group of four.
SERIES WITH THE HUSKIES: Miami and NIU have met a total of 36 times prior with the Huskies owning a 19-17 all-time series lead. The two sides met twice last season, first in DeKalb on Jan. 21, an 89-76 NIU triumph. On Feb. 15 in Oxford, the Huskies came out on top again, this time a close 69-67 decision. The teams will meet twice again this season, the second contest set to come on Jan. 31 in DeKalb.
LOOKING AHEAD: After opening conference play at home against NIU, Miami hits the road to take on Ball State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The team then returns home to host Central Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 1 p.m. for One Miami Day inside Millett Hall. The men's team will battle Western Michigan at 3:30 p.m. One ticket gains entrance to BOTH games of the doubleheader. There will be a carnival on the concourse with inflatables, games and activities for our younger fans prior to the women's game and again in between games as well as a photo booth. Following the men's game there will be an autograph session with BOTH teams.
