Miami women ‘right on track’ heading into MAC play

Miami coach pleased with team’s play in final nonconference game of season.

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By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer Updated 7:39 AM Monday, January 3, 2011

CINCINNATI — Let the Mid-American Conference season begin.

The Miami University women’s basketball team completed its nonconference schedule in solid fashion Sunday afternoon, using a 65-56 victory over host Cincinnati to push its record to 8-5.

“I definitely think we’re ready for the MAC,” said RedHawks sophomore forward Kirsten Olowinski, who had a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds. “I’m ready to see the next step.”

MU coach Maria Fantanarosa will take her seniorless squad on the road Wednesday to face Kent State (9-3).

“We’re probably right on track of where I expected us to be,” Fantanarosa said. “I’m very optimistic. I really like these players individually. They’re playing with heart, they’re playing unselfishly, and they’re still eager to learn.

“It’s an enjoyable team to coach,” she added. “Am I anxious to keep getting back to practice and continuing to help them grow? Yes, definitely.”

The RedHawks’ conquest of UC wasn’t hard to break down. Miami had a sizable advantage in field-goal percentage (40.8 to 31.7) and on the boards (43-29).

MU trailed only once (2-0), yet never led by more than nine before a crowd of 473 at Fifth Third Arena.

Maggie Boyer scored 18 points to lead the RedHawks, while Courtney Osborn had 12 and Rachael Hencke added 10. Osborn also dished out eight assists.

“I thought this was one of our better defensive games in our last three or four,” Fantanarosa said. “I don’t think our defense is why we’re winning, but our defense kept us in this game. And that’s ending with the rebounds, so I’m counting that on the defensive end.

“We had a lot of contributions on the offensive end by a lot of different people,” she continued. “Going into the MAC, that’s important.”

Olowinski admitted Miami was flat at times in a local contest that lacked a rivalry flavor (the teams hadn’t squared off since 1994).

“There’s definitely moments that spark us,” Olowinski said. “I think we had the momentum when we needed it and the energy when we needed it.”

It was a frustrating day for the Bearcats (7-6), who were done scoring after Jeanise Randolph’s layup made it 60-56 with 3:33 left.

UC, playing with a short bench, got double-digit points from Chanel Chisholm (20), Randolph (13) and Shareese Ulis (10).

“You have nights when you don’t make shots,” Bearcats coach Jamelle Elliott said. “We need to control the things that we can control. You can control boxing out. You can control hitting the offensive boards hard. You can control knowing where their shooters are and not giving up 3s. You can control knowing how we’re going to guard the pick and roll every time.”

Olowinski’s board work was a consistent pain for the Bearcats. UC’s Tiffany Turner was the game’s No. 2 rebounder with six.

“It really comes back to practice,” said Olowinski, an Erie, Pa., native. “I get challenged so much in practice that when I come to a game, it’s the same exact mind-set. So it’s just a matter of finding the ball and trying to do what I can in that perspective.”

The Bearcats begin Big East Conference play Wednesday at South Florida.

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