MIAMI UNIVERSITY

MU women set for MAC play

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By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer 1:49 AM Wednesday, January 6, 2010

OXFORD — The Miami University women’s basketball team is eager to start fresh in the Mid-American Conference.

The RedHawks open the MAC season tonight, Jan. 6, at Buffalo, having concluded a difficult nonconference schedule with a 2-11 record.

“We’re really pumped up to show everyone in the MAC what we can do,” Miami sophomore forward Rachael Hencke said. “Our record doesn’t show what we can do.”

MU coach Maria Fantanarosa is in agreement. She’s watched her young squad improve its performance and team play during the early stages of the campaign.

“I think we’re the best 2-11 team maybe in the country right now,” Fantanarosa said. “We were inconsistent at the beginning of the preseason, and when we started to make progress, it wasn’t enough to beat a very tough schedule.

“Now hopefully we’ll be able to continue to grow at a rapid pace so we’ll be able to compete in the MAC,” she added.

Freshman guard Courtney Osborn (20.1) leads Miami in scoring, and three other players are close to double digits: sophomore guard Maggie Boyer (9.4), Hencke (9.2) and senior forward Ashleigh Brown (8.0).

Fantanarosa started four sophomores and a freshman in Sunday’s 75-61 loss to visiting Miami (Fla.). That rookie, Osborn, erupted for a career-high 29 points.

“A couple times I thought it was a push-off, but she cleared space real well,” Hurricanes coach Katie Meier said. “Her step-back 3 is as high level as anything I’ll see in the (Atlantic Coast Conference). She’s a real talent.”

Osborn, a Fishers, Ind., native, said it was simply her turn to be the scorer.

“When one of us feels it, we do our best to get them the ball,” Osborn said.

The RedHawks will have to deal with a significant scorer in Buffalo, where the Bulls are led by Kourtney Brown.

The 6-foot redshirt junior forward is averaging 16.1 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. She’s shooting 56.6 percent from the field.

Buffalo is 4-9 and coming off wins over Stetson (Dec. 29, 65-53) and Bucknell (Jan. 3, 64-51). Miami also beat Bucknell 75-54 on Nov. 14.