Bellbrook graduation 2012
Fairfield Senior 2012 graduation
Kroger Aquatic Center opens
UD women battle Miami in rare weekday matinee
Young Flyers to host game for nearly 2,000 area elementary school students.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
DAYTON — The University of Dayton women's basketball team is known for its youth with three freshmen in the starting line-up, but those players might seem like old fogeys compared to all the rug-rats in the stands for the home opener Wednesday, Dec. 10.
The Flyers (6-3) are partnering with area elementary schools to turn the game at noon against Miami (5-2) into a math-oriented field trip. The program is called, "Learning Can Take You Higher, When You Do It with Rudy Flyer."
Each attendee will receive a booklet with basketball-related math problems, and the concourses at UD Arena will be filled with games and entertainment.
"We're trying to marry academics and UD basketball," said Flyers coach Jim Jabir, who estimated that nearly 2,000 students will take part in the event.
"Last year, at Eastern Michigan, they had 1,000 or so kids, and it was a great atmosphere."
If the basketball-playing youngsters in the audience happen to check out the action on the floor, they might learn some valuable things there, too.
The Flyers have won six of their last seven games without having a senior in the starting lineup. Sophomore Kristin Daugherty leads the team in scoring at 16.2, while each of the three freshmen are tops among the Flyers in other categories — Justine Raterman in rebounds (9.6), Patrice Lalor in assists (3.4) and Casey Nance in blocks (1.8).
Jabir admits he didn't expect to have so much success so soon with this group.
"Their composure is what's gotten me. We've played some very good teams, and they have not panicked," he said. "We played Texas, which is a top-10 team, a very athletic team that's always pressuring and attacking, and we only had 14 turnovers. Four years ago, if we would have had 14 turnovers in a game, we'd have thrown a party.
"It's a talented group. They're vigilant. They work hard. They're very disciplined and a classy bunch. We'll take it."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Next Game
Who: Miami (5-2) at Dayton (6-3)
When: Noon, Wednesday, Dec. 10
Where: UD Arena
