Virus ‘concerns’ lead to postponed opener for Miami women’s team

DeUnnaHendrixwasasked duringaMondayZoommedia sessionwhat’sbeen thehardest part of preparing her Miami women’s basketball team for the season in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic.

“What’s been the easy part?” the second-year RedHawkscoachrespondedwith asmile.“That’sthequestion.”

Thatwas reaffirmed Tuesdaywhen Miami announced today’s season opener atWisconsin was postponed “due to COVID-19 concerns.” The RedHawks and Badgers will look into rescheduling.

Miami is nowscheduled to open Sunday at Notre Dame.

That willbetheRedHawks’ firstgamesincean87-72lossat BuffaloonMarch9in thefirst round of the Mid-American Conference tournament. The loss to the sixth-seeded Bulls by the 11th-seededRedHawks was Miami’s ninth straight, capping a disappointing season that ended with records of 11-20 overall and 4-14 in the MAC.

Hendrix faces the task of replacing the top two scorers and three of the top four from last year’s squad. That groupincludedguardLauren Dickerson, who graduated as theprogram’sall-timescoring leader.Hendrixhopestomake up for the losseswith depth.

“Roster willing, we hope to go pretty deep,” she said. “We’ll play a lot of lineups and a lot of different rotations. We’ll be as up-tempo as we can be, We’ll be moving the ball. Onthe other side of the ball, we’ll be gritty and tough.”

SophomorePeytonScott is Miami’s top returning scorer. The 5-foot-8 Scott averaged 12.5 points per game last season and finished second on the team behind Dickerson with 65 assists. Hendrix also anticipates significant contributions from 5-10 freshman guard Katie Davidson.

The RedHawks are scheduledtoplayatPurdueonDec. 3 before meeting Valparaiso in theirhomeopener Dec. 8. Their 20-game Mid-American Conference schedule is due to open at Central Michigan on Dec. 15, followed by anothernon-conferencegame at Evansville on Dec. 19 and Buffalo in the MAC home opener Jan. 2.