‘We have goals here’: RedHawks one game away from tournament championship
Miami won MAC women’s basketball titles in 1982, 2008
‘We have goals here’: RedHawks one game away from tournament championship
Miami won MAC women’s basketball titles in 1982, 2008
Each game in the Mid-American Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament is a test. In Friday’s semifinal round, Miami University had all the answers.
The RedHawks:
- Shot 50% for 3-pointers
- Played stifling defense
- Showed their versatility with 10 players contributing points and four in double figures
- And left little room to doubt they would be playing for the MAC tournament championship with an 80-52 win over Ohio University.
Even when an inadvertent Ohio foul left four players down on the court, Miami’s Amber Tretter offered a helping hand to her Bobcat counterparts.
Dominant basketball, good sportsmanship, and a spot in the finals opposite sixth-seeded Toledo? It was a good day indeed for the RedHawks. The victory came on the heels of a 77-62 loss to Ohio on March 7 that capped the regular season.
“It kind of woke us up and really set the tone for how we need to be prepared this week,” Tretter said in the postgame press conference at Cleveland’s Rocket Arena.
“We have goals here and we want to execute and win these games.”
Twice Miami has won MAC tournament titles – the first in 1982 and again in 2008. The winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The RedHawks, the top seed and the conference’s regular-season champion, upended Kent State 66-58 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Thursday’s victory was the RedHawks’ 27th this year – the most in program history – as they reached the tournament final for the first time since 2008.
“It was a great team effort,” said senior guard Clara Gonzalez Planella, who scored 17 points. “I feel like everyone contributed.
“It’s my last year, so I want to win it.”
Miami Coach Glenn Box credited not only the players but also the coaching staff. “I really felt like they were amazing in this quick one-day prep,” he said.
“I relayed it to her and she started working on it, and she’s been much better since,” Box said. “She’s very confident.”
Confidence was contagious in the semifinal, and so was success for the RedHawks. Amber Scalia led all scorers with 22 points, while Trotter netted 14 with a game-high 11 rebounds. Ilse de Vries added 11 for Miami.
The RedHawks also made 16 3-pointers, tied for second-most in a single game in program history. It was one shy from the 17 they converted in a win over Ohio on Jan. 31.
“This is a beautiful game when it’s played right and when you have everyone working in synchronization,” Box said. “You definitely felt that today.”
Two of those streaks have been completed. Now, they can accomplish the third during Saturday’s 11 a.m. final. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
“When we walk out of that locker room, they have to feel my sense of urgency,” Box said. “We don’t want to take anything for granted. It’s a quick turnaround, but now it’s time to go. We know it’s going to take a big effort. I strongly feel when we play our best basketball, we’re the best team. I know they’re going to be prepared and ready to go.”