DaytonDailyNews.com

CLEVELAND — Even with their three-game winning streak, last week's upset win over Bowling Green and the amazing comeback against Eastern Michigan, coach Maria Fantanarosa and her Miami University women's basketball team know they face a steep challenge.

"We'd matched up well against Bowling Green," she said. "We don't match up as well against Ball State."

The RedHawks must face the Cardinals, the champions of the Mid-American Conference West Division, in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals today, March 13 at Quicken Loans Arena.

If anything, Fantanarosa is glad.

"If that's the team you think is the biggest challenge," she said, "it's good to have them early."

Yes, the RedHawks did snap Bowling Green's 25-game winning streak when they shocked the Falcons 50-45 in overtime in Oxford on March 5. And yes, the Falcons have the league's best record (26-3 overall, 15-1 in the MAC).

But both of the RedHawks' games against the Falcons were close, and they lost at Ball State by 15 points on Jan. 31.

"They have a lot of offensive weapons," Fantanarosa said of the Cardinals. "That's what makes them so dangerous."

Ball State is led by 6-foot-1 sophomore forward Emily Maggert, who averages 13.7 points per game and ranks among the MAC leaders in field goal shooting (53.9 percent) and foul shooting (82.4 percent).

The Cardinals also can go to 5-9 senior guard Porchia Green (12.9 points), 6-1 junior forward Danielle Gratton (12.3 points) and 5-8 junior guard Audrey McDonald (11.9 points).

All four players rank among the MAC's top 20 scorers.

But the RedHawks showed they have multiple threats as well.

Senior point guard Jenna Schone had been in a serious shooting slump coming into the tournament, hitting only 27.1 of her field goal attempts in the previous four games. She broke out of that slump with a career-high 30 points and a career-high six 3-point baskets in Miami's 75-69 victory over Eastern.

Somewhat overshadowed by Schone's eruption was the performance off the bench by senior center Stephanie Ford, who recorded the third double-double of her career.

In 21 minutes of playing time, Ford finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. She hit 3-of-3 field goal attempts and 7-of-9 free throws and was a whirlwind on defense, coming up with three blocked shots and three steals.

Miami also got big production out of senior forward Jaclyn Leininger, who nailed 7-of-11 shots for 14 points.

Freshman forward Rachael Hencke, who had scored 10 or more points in five straight games, was held to three points against EMU but did come up with seven rebounds and was one of seven Miami players with at least two assists.

Fantanarosa wasn't surprised that Miami's three freshman starters (Hencke, Michelle Oswalt and Erin Wisner) combined to score just 11 points while Miami's four seniors (including Ashley Hawkins) combined for 59.

"At the beginning of the game, because we were so young ... in this environment and with what's at stake, it puts a lot more pressure on the senior leadership," Fantanarosa pointed out. "There are growing pains you go through."

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

Friday's game

What: No. 4 East seed Miami RedHawks (16-14, 7-9 Mid-American Conference) vs. No. 1 West seed Ball State Cardinals (22-8, 14-2 MAC) in MAC Tournament quarterfinals

When: 1 p.m.

Where: Quicken Loans Arena (20,562), Cleveland

TV: None

Radio: WMOH-AM (1450),

www.miamisportsnetwork.com