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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 8:22 AM Thursday, October 29, 2009

OXFORD — The Miami University women’s basketball team has very little experience, but the RedHawks did receive some respect in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Coach Maria Fantanarosa’s team was picked to finish third in the MAC East Division and was one of only six teams to receive first-place votes.

The Bowling Green Falcons are favored to repeat as the East Division champion, and the Toledo Rockets are picked to win the West Division.

Bowling Green, which finished 15-1 in the MAC a year ago, is the preseason choice to capture the conference tournament.

The RedHawks are coming off an up-and-down season in which they finished 16-15 overall, 7-9 in the MAC, and then lost four of their top six scorers to graduation, including All-MAC guard Jenna Schone.

“Although our roster doesn’t have a lot of recognizable names on it because of our youth, I believe we have a lot of talent,” Fantanarosa said. “It’s been a very enjoyable team to coach because of the talent.

Miami’s roster includes only two seniors and one junior.

“This is the youngest team I’ve ever coached,” Fantanarosa said. “I’m reminded of it every day ... They’re eager to learn and are very coachable. There is a new energy and it’s contagious.”

Energy is one thing, but what about leadership?

“It’s still leadership by committee,” Fantanarosa said.

“Ashleigh Brown is taking on new responsibilities,” the Miami coach said of her 5-foot-11 senior guard. “She has a new confidence and is our most vocal player.”

Other leadership will come from players like sophomore guard Maggie Boyer, the leading returning scorer (9.6 points per game) who is back after missing nine games with an ankle injury, sophomore forward Erin Wisner and senior guard Courtney Reed.

“One of our strengths has been rebounding,” Fantanarosa said. “I haven’t been able to say that in a long time. That’s something they take pride in. It’s an area in which we’ve been inconsistent in the past.”

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