Miami women’s basketball enters second year with Glenn Box after underwhelming 2024 campaign

A new head coach, five returners, four transfers and five first-years took Millett Court last year during a time of great change for the Miami University RedHawks women’s basketball team.

Glenn Box’s first year as head coach for the RedHawks concluded with a 9-20 overall record (6-12 in conference play). Though they missed the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament, the RedHawks showed promise as a developing program.

The returners from the previous program were key to Miami’s success during the transition. Forward Katey Richason and guard Cori Lard contributed 342 points together.

However, the first years of last year’s roster stepped up immensely. Forward Amber Tretter put up 300 points and led the team in rebounds (222) and blocks (32). Lakresha Edwards brought in 102 points, including 25 three-pointers.

The inexperience of last year’s team meant that the new players played more minutes than is expected from a first-year. For Box, having these players gain that experience early on will be pivotal for the team going into the 2024 season.

“We were incredibly young,” Box said. “We feel more confident in their abilities after going through a year the way that [they did]. We feel better about where they currently are.”

To address the team’s youth, the coaching staff spent a lot of time digging in the transfer portal this offseason, coming away with three players, including graduate student Maya Chandler from South Methodist University (SMU).

As a Mustang, Chandler scored 149 points, including a season-high 16 against Alabama State University. She transferred to Miami to be closer to home, as she is originally from Indiana.

With four years of playing experience (three at Loyola University Chicago, one at Southern Methodist University), Chandler can show the new players on the team how to buy into the program and work towards the team’s goals.

“I have a lot of experience on the floor,” Chandler said. “I can set an example as to how to work hard, how to come in every day [and] be a good teammate.”

Guards Camille Jackson and Enjulina Gonzalez join Chandler from the transfer portal. Miami’s decisions in the transfer portal have been productive, and Box said he feels that these three players have a chance to really improve this team.

“I think all of our transfers have an opportunity to be real players in this league,” Box said. “[If] they be who they’ve been and strive to continue to get better and do the things that we ask, I think that they are going to have an opportunity to be real good.”

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The RedHawks return a strong scoring front, with Tretter, Lard, Richason and Hennessey Luu-Brown all donning the Red and White again. However, the lackluster record last year calls attention to key things that Box addressed going into the 2024 campaign.

“You can’t skip steps,” Box said. “That’s my main takeaway. I felt like we needed to become more dynamic offensively. We needed to be faster, we needed to be more talented than we were last year, and that’s through player development [and] the incorporation of new talent.”

The season opens against the Appalachian State University Mountaineers in early November. One week later, Miami faces an early test in the season against the Xavier University Musketeers, who lost to the RedHawks in overtime last year.

Non-conference play includes three crucial games against the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers, the University of Dayton Flyers and the Purdue University Boilermakers. Last year, Miami lost to Western Kentucky (63-43) and Dayton (73-60).

The Boilermakers arrive in Oxford on Dec. 17 for the last home game of 2024. For Miami, a Big Ten opponent playing at Millett provides a huge opportunity to show the country what it’s missing.

“It’s a good time to showcase what you can really do,” Chandler said. “Power Fives are always exciting games.”

Following the Christmas Classic on Dec. 20 and 21, the RedHawks begin conference play with the new year against the Ball State University Cardinals.

They run the MAC gauntlet from January through March, including rematches against teams that handed them significant defeats last year.

The RedHawks suffered two devastating losses last year to the University of Toledo Rockets, who went on to win the conference championship against the Bowling Green State University Falcons. The Rockets welcome Miami at the end of January for their only matchup.

The Kent State University Golden Flashes meet the RedHawks once in January and again in February. Last year, the Golden Flashes bested Miami 69-38.

MAC competition wraps up in March against the Central Michigan University Chippewas and the Northern Illinois University Huskies. The Chippewas and the Huskies contributed to Miami’s three-game losing streak that ultimately removed them from postseason contention last year.

The RedHawks need to make up for their No. 1o ranking in the MAC. A new roster and more experience on the team can only benefit them, but they need to prove that they can pose a threat to not just other conference opponents, but any team they come across..

“We haven’t accomplished anything,” Box said. “We’re not in a position to overlook anyone. We take everyone seriously. [On opening day], everyone has an opportunity to see our personnel in our new way of playing.”

Miami will enter its second year with the new coaching staff on Nov. 4. With the work put in since March, the RedHawks have a chance to turn their trajectory around after last year’s performance.

@thekethan04

babukc2@miamioh.edu