KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The MAC West Division leading Western Michigan (9-13, 6-2 MAC) women's basketball team will travel to Oxford, Ohio, Saturday, Feb. 9 to face the Miami RedHawks (13-9, 5-3 MAC) at 2 p.m. The game can be heard live on the Bronco Radio Network, WQXC 100.9 FM.
TRYING TO STAY ON TOP
With a 6-2 record in Mid-American Conference play, Western Michigan owns the top spot in the MAC West standings, despite a loss to Ohio last Saturday. Ball State and Eastern Michigan are each one game behind the Broncos with 5-3 records. Ohio leads the MAC East and is tied with WMU for the best record overall in the conference. The Bobcats host Eastern Michigan this weekend, will Ball State welcomes Akron.
A LOOK AT THE MATCHUP
Western Michigan trails in the all-time series with Miami, 22-28, but won both meetings between the two schools last year. The Broncos won the home regular season meeting, 90-68, and defeated the RedHawks in the opening round of the MAC Tournament, 74-58. The 90 points in the regular season contest was the most scored in a game all last season by WMU.
THE MAC'S MOST COMPLETE PLAYER
Tiera DeLaHoussaye is the reigning MAC West Player of the Week for the fifth time this season. The five recognitions ties as the most received ever by a single player in a single season. Only three other players in MAC history have earned the award as many times in a season. DeLaHoussaye leads the MAC in assists (7.68) and steals per game (3.27) and ranks 15th in scoring (11.5), 18th in rebounding (5.9). No other player in the conference leads two statisical categories or ranks in the top 20 in the four previously mentioned.
THE FAB FOUR
WMU has four players averaging double figures in MAC contests - Amanda Parker (15.0), Tiera DeLaHoussaye (11.9), Brenna Banktson (11.3) and Ebony Cleary (10.1). Molly Dwyer is just shy of double digits with 9.8 ppg, while Sara Vest is contributing 7.3. As a team Western Michigan is averaging 74.4 ppg, and holding their MAC counterparts to 68.4.
THINK PINK WEEK
Miami is promoting the WBCA Think Pink Initiative for Saturday's game against Western Michigan and encourages fans to wear pink to support the fight against breast cancer. Western Michigan will do its part in honoring Think Pink week Wednesday, when it hosts Buffalo at 7 p.m. The Broncos will put school colors aside and wear pink uniforms, and also encourage fans to join in wearing pink. In partnership with the WBCA, women's basketball teams across the nation are helping to raise awareness about breast cancer during "Think Pink" week, Feb. 8-17.
SCOUTING MIAMI
? 2007-08 Record: 13-9, 5-3 MAC
? 2006-07 Record: 12-18, 6-10 MAC
? Head Coach (record at Miami, season): Maria Fantanarosa (151-131, 10th)
Notes: Miami has won its last two straight, defeating the two other Michigan teams last week, taking a 81-70 victory from Eastern Michigan and beating Central Michigan, 76-74. The RedHawks three MAC losses have come to Buffalo (62-57), at Ohio (74-55) and to Northern Illinois (77-74).
Senior guard Amanda Jackson ranks sixth in the nation and leads the MAC in scoring, averaging 23.0 ppg. Jackson has scored 1,750 career points heading into Saturday's game with Western Michigan and passed Heather Cusick as Miami's all-time leading scorer on Jan. 29.
Junior guard Jenna Schone is the RedHawk's next biggest threat, producing 13.1 ppg. Last week, she stepped up her production, tossing in 16.5 ppg, while dishing out 6.5 assists per game.Courtney Reed and Laura Markwood each average just over eight points a contest for Miami.
