Feb. 8, 2002

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REDHAWKS RETURN HOME TO FACE BOWLING GREEN: With losses in five of its last six outings, Miami University women's basketball team (12-10, 6-5 MAC) attempts to begin a late season run at 2 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Bowling Green State University (7-15, 4-7 MAC) in the first game of a Miami women's and men's basketball doubleheader.

Bowling Green, which started the Mid-American Conference season with three consecutive losses, has split its last eight league games to stand fourth in the MAC's East Division. Last Tuesday, the Falcons dropped a 78-69 overtime decision to Ohio University despite leading by nine at the half. BGSU holds a pair of league wins over Buffalo, along with wins over Akron and Marshall this season.

Mentored by first-year head coach Curt Miller, the Falcons are without the services of preseason all-MAC selection Francine Miller, who is applying for a medical redshirt after suffering a knee injury. Leading the Falcons is sophomore guard Stefanie Wenzel, who is averaging 11.6 points a game after pouring in 20 in Tuesday's loss to Ohio. Junior guard Kim Greich ranks second on the team in scoring at 10.9 ppg. The Falcons have attempted 460 3-point field goals this season, ranking them second in the MAC.

A LOOK AT THE SERIES: Saturday marks the 49th meeting between Bowling Green and Miami, who first met during the 1974-75 season. Though Bowling Green holds a 28-10 series advantage, Miami has closed the gap over the last two seasons, winning three of the last four and sweeping the Falcons a year ago. Miami head coach Maria Fantanarosa, who holds a 3-2 coaching record versus BGSU, enjoyed just one win in eight clashes with the Falcons as a player. The Red and White, which is looking for its third straight win in the series, has enjoyed just two previous three-game winning streaks in the 27-year history of the series.

THE LAST MEETING: In the final regular-season game of the 2000-01 campaign, Miami got 19 points from Heather Cusick and 17 from Kim Lancaster as the RedHawks earned a 72-59 win in Bowling Green's Anderson Arena. Miami, which held a narrow 33-31 halftime advantage, led just 41-40 with 14:48 to go but embarked on a devastating 17-3 run over the next eight minutes to build a 58-53 advantage. The Falcons could get no closer the rest of the contest, as Miami ended a three-game losing streak in Anderson Arena. Cusick also contributed eight assists and five steals in leading the RedHawks.

LOOKING BACK: Miami scored a season-low 44 points last Tuesday, falling for the 13th consecutive time to Toledo, 57-44. Previously, Miami ended a four-game losing streak last Saturday with a 79-49 defeat of Marshall. Complete recaps and boxscores of these and all Miami games can be found on pages 12-19.

HEAD COACH MARIA FANTANAROSA: A former standout on the court for the Red and White, Maria Fantanarosa is in her fourth season of working the sidelines for the Miami women's basketball program.

Since taking over a team that had no freshman class in 1998, she has guided the team to consecutive MAC Tournament appearances and back-to-back MAC East Division runner-up finishes. Fantanarosa also has brought in and mentored back-to-back selections to the MAC all-freshmen team for only the second time in program history while helping four players to all-MAC accolades. A 1990 graduate of Miami, Fantanarosa was a two-time all-MAC honoree for the Red and White. Following her graduation, she went on to serve as an assistant women's basketball coach for Xavier (1990-94) and South Carolina (1994-97) before serving a one-year stint as head coach at Western Carolina (1997-98).

One of the most prolific scorers in high school girls basketball history, Fantanarosa's 3,823 career points while at Mt. Carmel Area High School in Kulpmont, Pa., rank among the all-time Top 10 nationally.

'HAWKS ON THE RADIO: For the first time in program history, fans of Miami women's basketball can follow the Red and White live on the World Wide Web. In a deal with Yahoo! Sports, all 27 regular-season games along with any postseason action will be carried live over the internet. WMOH, Miami's flagship station, will air 17 of the games throughout the year. Calling the games are veteran Miami commentators Bob Rotruck and Bill Douglas. The live internet broadcast can be accessed by going to the women's basketball schedule page on Miami's official website- www. MURedHawks.com.

MILLETT MAGIC: Miami, which has won 13 of its last 16 in Millett Hall, has certainly created some Millett magic over the last four seasons. This season, Miami stands at 6-3 in Millett Hall overall and 3-2 in league play. Last season, the Red and White went 10-2 at home and finished the season with seven consecutive home wins. The RedHawks are 25-8 (.758) at home over the last four seasons and had turned away 10 straight MAC opponents in Millett until Northern Illinois ended the streak on Jan. 19. The RedHawks have won eight consecutive home games against MAC East Division opponents.

A TALE OF TWO DIVISIONS: Now in her fourth season in the Mid-American Conference, Miami head coach Maria Fantanarosa is working to improve upon a 32-27 (.542) overall league record. Miami has risen to the occasion when it's come to divisional play over the past four seasons, posting an impressive 25-10 (.714) record. Overall, Miami had turned away 12 consecutive MAC East foes in the regular season until a Jan. 26, 62-56, loss at Kent State.

Despite their success versus the East, Fantanarosa's RedHawks have not fared as well when heading West. Miami has gone just 7-17 (.292) versus the MAC West over the past four seasons and has lost 10 consecutive road games to MAC West foes.

FOLLOWING THROUGH: Under head coach Maria Fantanarosa, Miami has made a point of finishing strong. Over the past three seasons, Miami has posted a combined record of 9-6 (.667) through its final five regular-season games and has ended every regular season on a winning streak. Ironically, Miami also stood at 6-5 in the MAC at this point a year ago but regrouped to win four of its last five and secure a second-place finish in the MAC East. The table appears to be set for the RedHawks, who play all of their final five games against opponents that are currently under .500 on the season.

A LONG-DISTANCE AFFAIR: A look at the recent history of the Miami-Bowling Green series strongly indicates that the 3-point arc could play an important role in Saturday's game. Over the past five meetings, the RedHawks and Falcons have unleashed a combined 46.8 3-point bombs per game, draining an average of 17.8 per contest. Miami, which set the standard two years ago when it made 31-of-64 3-pointers in a pair of games with the Falcons, has fired an average of 25.6 3-pointers per game in the last five meetings. Bowling Green has been slightly more reserved at 21.2 long-range attempts per contest. This season, the Falcons are averaging 20.7 3-point attempts per game, while Miami is firing up 16.0 long-range attempts a contest. Both teams rank among the top four in the MAC in 3-point attempts.

SHOOTING WOES: The difference between winning and losing in the MAC has become a very simple matter of putting the ball in the basket for Miami. Through its six league wins, Miami has blistered the nets, draining 179-of-353 (.507) field goal attempts. The RedHawks also have knocked down 44 percent of their 3-point attempts during the same stretch. Mirroring Miami's success during its winning streak is junior Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo), who's hitting 50 percent of her field goal attempts and 42 percent of her 3-pointers in Miami wins.

It has been ugly in Miami's five league losses, in which the RedHawks have hit just 104-of-292 (.356) field goal attempts and a dismal 29 percent from beyond the arc. Following suit is Cusick, who, under immense pressure from opposing defenses, has hit just 30 percent from the field and 24 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

STRING OF TREYS: As testament to what has become a fine 3-point shooting tradition, the RedHawks are working to maintain a string of games with at least one 3-point field goal that dates back to March of 1993. Since that game, a MAC Semifinal loss to Kent State, Miami has drained a 3-point bucket in 245 consecutive games-the longest such streak in the MAC. Louisville holds the current NCAA record, having buried a trey in 312 straight games. Individually, Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) has hit a trey in 26 straight games. Both streaks nearly came to an end last Tuesday, when Miami hit just 1-of-20 3-point attempts.

MAKING A STATEMENT: A two-time honorable mention all-MAC honoree over the past two seasons, Miami's Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) has her sights set on bigger things this season. Twelve games into the MAC season, Cusick has emerged as a strong candidate for the league's player of the year award. As of Feb. 6, Cusick ranked among the MAC's leaders in eight of a possible 12 categories. Cusick leads the league in points (17.4), 3-point field goals (2.73) and steals (2.86) per game, while ranking second in assists (5.55 apg). In MAC play, Cusick is averaging a league-best 18.1 points per game, which is nearly two points per game better than her nearest competitor.

20-POINT DIVA: After tacking on her seventh and eighth 20-point games of the season versus Kent State (Jan. 15) and Northern Illinois (Jan. 19), Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) has tied all-time leading scorer Monica Niemann (1991-95) for first-place at Miami with 21 career 20-point games. Cusick cleared the 20-point barrier six times as a freshman and seven times as a sophomore. One more 20-point game this season will tie Cusick for the single-season record, which is shared by Niemann and Mary Ann Meyers (1978-82). Cusick has gone six consecutive games without a 20-point effort, her longest such drought of the season.

TOUGH AS THEY COME: When opposing coaches are scouting Miami, they do not have to wonder whether or not point guard Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) will be on the floor. Cusick has played in all 79 games of her collegiate career thus far and has made a remarkable 76 consecutive starts. Opposing teams can also expect Cusick to show up on the stat sheet, where she has scored in double figures in 20 of the last 21 games.

CHART CLIMBING: Although just a junior, Miami's Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) is making her presence felt in Miami's career record book. Cusick cracked the Top 10 in Miami's career scoring list with her 23-point outing versus Northern Illinois on Jan. 19. The junior, who has tallied 1,134 in her career, recently passed head coach Maria Fantanarosa for ninth place on Miami's career scoring list.

Already ranked among Miami's career Top 10 for assists (2nd-410), free throw percentage (4th-.803), 3-point field goals (3rd-166), steals (8th-194) and field goals made (9th-386), she could finish her career ranked among Miami's career Top 10 in 10 major statistical categories.

A NOSE FOR THE BASKET: Sophomore guard Melanie Kozlowski (Parma, Ohio/Holy Name), who has worn a protective mask since suffering a broken nose versus Kentucky (Dec. 5), has been providing Miami with a steady long-range threat over the past 13 contests. Kozlowski, who has drained three or more treys in five league games, had hit 23 3-pointers over the past 12 outings prior to being blanked Feb. 5 at Toledo . The sophomore moved into 10th place on Miami's career list with her three treys versus Akron, while also amassing her first career double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds versus the zips. Kozlowski hit a career-best four 3-pointers and tallied a career-high 20 points in a Jan. 23 loss at Eastern Michigan.

DAY TO DAY: Following an impressive start, Miami's Colleen Day (Independence, Ohio/Holy Name) has been slumping during the RedHawks' current woes. Since a Jan. 12 defeat of Ohio, in which she poured in a career-high 28 points, Day ranked 11th in the MAC in scoring at 13.9 points per game and was hitting a league-best 60 percent of her shots from the floor. The sophomore also ranked fifth in the MAC in rebounding at 7.8 boards per game and led the league in offensive rebounds. Since that time, Day has faded considerably, averaging just 7.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while hitting a meager 35 percent of her shots from the field.

Despite her recent struggles, Day has continued to remain a threat from 3-point range, where she has hit 22-of-33 treys for a team best 67 percent on the season.

SENSATIONAL OR SLUMPING?: Following a fabulous freshman season in which she earned honorable mention all-MAC, MAC all-freshman and MAC all-tournament recognition, Miami's Kim Lancaster (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) has been hovering between sensational and the dreaded sophomore slump this season. Through 12 games in which Lancaster has cleared the double-figure plateau, she is averaging 15.0 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field. In 10 games where Lancaster has been held to less than 10 points, she is averaging just 6.0 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting a mere 33 percent from the floor.

SHE SHOOTS, SHE SCORES: Miami freshman Kim Smith (Gary, Ind./West Side) has been showing promising signs of what may lie ahead in her collegiate career. On Dec. 15, Smith shredded Detroit for 18 points and 10 rebounds, notching her first career double-double. On the day, the forward scorched the nets for eight buckets in 12 attempts. Smith was an even more dominant scorer last weekend versus Marshall, draining 8-of-11 buckets on the way to a career-high 19 points. The freshman, who uses her athleticism to get inside for close-range shots, has hit a solid 56-of-95 (.589) shots from the field while becoming Miami's most consistent finisher in the paint.

DEPTH PERCEPTION: The bench is becoming an increasingly lonely place for Miami. Since losing off-guard Katie Schwegmann (Melbourne, Ky./Bishop Brossart) for the season on Jan. 19, Miami played only seven players in losses to Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan and, with the recent emergence of Hillary Beck (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) has gone just eight deep over the past four games. Much of Miami's current situation can be blamed on the RedHawks having no senior class, the result of head coach Maria Fantanarosa's being hired too late to sign a freshman class prior to the 1998-99 campaign.

PETTY THEFT: Averaging 11.9 steals a game through 22 contests, Miami finds itself once again leading the MAC in steals per game. Last season, Miami ranked first in the MAC with 12.0 steals an outing. Leading the RedHawks are Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo), who leads the league with 2.9 steals a contest, and Colleen Day (Independence, Ohio/Holy Name), who rates third in the MAC at 2.4 steals a game. Cusick, who has recorded at least one steal in 60 straight games, cracked Miami's career Top 10 with two steals versus Eastern Michigan (Jan. 23) and needs six more to become the eighth Miami player to collect 200 career steals.

SEEING DOUBLE-DOUBLE: After totaling five double-doubles through the entire 2000-01 season, Miami is making up for lost time during its 2001-02 campaign. Led by Colleen Day (Independence, Ohio/Holy Name) and Kim Lancaster (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton), who have four double-doubles apiece this season, the RedHawks have amassed 11 double-doubles on the year. Jana Butler (Findlay, Ohio/Liberty-Benton), Kim Smith (Gary, Ind./West Side) and Melanie Kozlowski (Parma, Ohio/Holy Name) have notched Miami's remaining two double-doubles. Of Miami's current players, Lancaster leads the way with seven career double-doubles, while Day has four and Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) has three.

CRASHING THE BOARDS: A key to Miami's success during its 5-0 MAC start, rebounding has been one of the RedHawks' weaknesses during their last five outings. After its first five games, Miami was maintaining a dominant +9.4 rebounding margin over its opposition, including a two-to-one edge in offensive rebounding. Over the last six games, however, the RedHawks have slipped to a -5.7 disadvantage on the glass. Miami, which ranked 10th in the MAC in rebounding margin last season, ranks third this season and has out-rebounded the opposition 13 times in 22 games. The RedHawks are 9-4 when out-rebounding their opponents.

THE MAGIC NUMBER: Miami has scored more than 70 points 11 times this season and posted a 10-1 record when doing so. On the other hand, Miami is 2-9 when scoring 70 or less. Defensively, the RedHawks are 8-2 when restricting the opposition to 70 or fewer points.

REVERSING A TREND: One of the keys to Miami's success in MAC play has been its ability to win the turnover battle. Entering MAC play, Miami ranked 11th in the MAC in turnovers while averaging 22.0 miscues per game. The Red and White, which led the league in turnover margin a year ago, was further struggling with a turnover margin of -2.1, which ranked 10th in the league.

It's been a different story since the start of MAC play, as the RedHawks have maintained a MAC-best turnover margin of +3.9 in league action. Miami is forcing a whopping 21.9 turnovers a game versus MAC foes, while committing 18.0 miscues. Overall, Miami now ranks fourth in the MAC in turnover margin (+0.91).

SCHWEGMANN LOST FOR THE SEASON: Miami freshman Katie Schwegmann (Melbourne, Ky./Bishop Brossart), who was coming into her own after back-to-back solid shooting days versus Ohio (Jan. 12) and Kent State (Jan. 15), will miss the rest of the season after suffering a lateral meniscus tear in her right knee last Saturday versus Northern Illinois. Schwegmann was averaging 11.2 minutes per game as an off-guard for the Red and White. She tallied 10 points in Miami's Jan. 12 defeat of Ohio.

BODIES WORKING OVERTIME: Overtime has been paying better than time and a half for Miami over the past three seasons. The RedHawks' thrilling Nov. 28 defeat of Valparaiso extended the RedHawks' string of overtime victories to four consecutive. No current Miami player has lost a collegiate overtime game, and head coach Maria Fantanarosa has not lost an overtime contest since a 1998 loss at Buffalo.

CUSICK AND DAY REAP MAC HONORS: Heather Cusick (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) and Colleen Day (Independence, Ohio/Holy Name) have wasted little time in grabbing the attention of their peers this season. Cusick was honored as the MAC East Division Player of the Week on Dec. 3 after averaging 22.5 points per game in wins over Valparaiso and Butler. Versus Valparaiso, Cusick drained a game-tying 3-point field goal as time expired and later hit a clinching jump shot in overtime. Cusick earned the honor again after leading Miami to a 2-0 MAC start on Jan. 7.

Day was honored as the MAC's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Dec. 10 after averaging 16.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as Miami defeated Kentucky and tumbled at Clemson. She owns a 3.89 GPA in English and secondary education. Day was named the MAC's East Division Player of the Week after recording a double-double versus Detroit on December 15. On Jan. 14, Day was honored again when she earned East Division Player of the Week honors for the second time.

During head coach Maria Fantanarosa's tenure, Miami has claimed MAC Player or Scholar-Athlete of the week honors a total of 16 times.

LANCASTER NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MAC: One year removed from a remarkable freshman campaign in which she averaged 14.9 points per game and earned honorable mention all-MAC, MAC all-Freshman and MAC all-Tournament honors, sophomore forward Kim Lancaster (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) was honored this past October as one of five players named to the preseason all-MAC team. Lancaster burst onto the collegiate scene a year ago, setting a RedHawk freshman record with 432 points. The forward set a Miami single-game record with 40 points versus Ball State in the MAC Quarterfinals.

POWER OF YOUTH: With no scholarship seniors on a team that returns all five of its starters from last season, Miami is undoubtedly one of the youngest veteran teams in the nation. Last season, head coach Maria Fantanarosa gave 124 of a possible 145 starts, or 86 percent, to her sophomore and freshmen classes. Miami's underclassmen also accounted for 4,609 of 5,875 minutes played, or 78 percent. During the 1999-2000 campaign, Miami's freshman class-the current junior class-made an instant impact, amassing 1,906 of a possible 5,625 minutes, or 34 percent of the team's total playing time.