The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Miami women finally home

Elementary students to watch RedHawks play first contest at Millett Hall since Dec. 11.

High school sports results for May 26
5/26/12
Reds' six-game winning streak broken
5/26/12
Annual Warrior Soccer Classic kicks off today
5/26/12
Dragons' rally falls short against Lansing
5/26/12
WSU baseball ousted from tournament
5/26/12
> More sports headlines

By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 12:33 AM Wednesday, January 12, 2011

OXFORD — The Miami University women’s basketball team will play today in front of what should its most enthusiastic crowd of the season.

The RedHawks, who have not played at Millett Hall since Dec. 11, face the Buffalo Bulls at 1 p.m. in Miami’s third annual Class at the Court game, which will feature in attendance more than 1,500 students.

“What a great way to come back home,” Miami coach Maria Fantanarosa said. “They’re from kindergarten through the sixth grade from the three elementary schools (Bogan, Kramer and Marshall) in the Talawanda School District.”

The RedHawks, spearheaded by Fantanarosa and Cindi Merrill, director of basketball operations, are frequent visitors to classrooms of each school and work with administrators to pass along encouraging messages to the students.

“Each elementary school is a little different in what they want us to focus on,” Fantanarosa said, explaining that the three messages are nutrition, physical activity and school climate.

Today’s game will have messages on the video board emphasizing those three topics, featuring Miami players and Talawanda district staff members.

Fantanarosa said the program “has really gained momentum very year.”

She hopes the game itself will feature a return to Miami’s winning ways.

The RedHawks are 0-2 in the Mid-American Conference after suffering back-to-back losses on the road to Bowling Green and Kent State. Miami has lost four of its last five after posting an impressive six-game winning streak which included a 67-61 victory at Indiana.

“We’re definitely at a place where this game is very important,” Fantanarosa said.

“After the last two days of practice, I feel good that the team has things in perspective,” she said. “They know more about what it takes to play 40 minutes and be ready for the MAC.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.