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Osborn is key to Miami's success

JM Rieger, Columnist

While Miami University students have been busy worrying about whether the hockey team will make the NCAA Tournament, the women's basketball team has been racking up victories left and right, thanks in large part to the play of junior guard Courtney Osborn.

After setting the Miami freshman single-season points record and becoming the first Miami sophomore to reach the 1,000 point mark, Osborn has yet again done the unthinkable this season, breaking the Miami and Mid-American Conference (MAC) record for points in a game, pouring in 48 against Akron Jan. 4.

Osborn has led the RedHawks in minutes played, steals, assists and points each of the past three seasons.

During that time, Miami has improved its record each year, and after finishing 13 and eight games under .500 each of the past two seasons, respectively, the 'Hawks are now an astounding 11 games over .500 and only one game out of first place in the MAC. This is due in large part to the play of Osborn.

The junior from Fishers, Ind. has been named the MAC East Division Player of the Week three times already this season and is showing no signs of slowing down following a 34-point performance Sunday afternoon against Western Michigan University.

Osborn is among the top players in the nation this season and is 33rd in scoring among all Division I players, averaging 18.6 points per game.

By comparison, one of the top players in the nation, Baylor University's Brittney Griner, is averaging 22.7 points per game.

She is also first in the MAC in assists per game, third in points and steals per game and second in assist-to-turnover ratio. Needless to say, Osborn has dominated the competition so far this season.

The Red and White have relied heavily on the play of Osborn their other guards this season to become one of the top mid-major teams in the country. In addition, strong play from Miami forwards Kirsten Olowinski and Lillian Pitts has solidified the 'Hawks' post presence this season.

Plus, following a 10-game winning streak, Collegeinsider.com ranked Miami 25th in its weekly top-25 Mid-Major Poll for the first time this season last week.

Now with only a little over a month before the MAC Tournament in March, the RedHawks will once again turn to Osborn to lead this team.

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She has dominated the competition thus far, and as the Red and White begin to eye a potential NCAA Tournament bid (yes, you read that correctly) she will be one of the centerpieces of this squad.

Now is the time for Miami fans to show their support for sports other than those played on the ice.

Miamians have shown they are capable of supporting their school, as has been shown in the past with both football and with hockey. However, it shouldn't take a Facebook group to get fans to come out to games (i.e. the women's basketball game against Bowling Green State University last Thursday).

And what better reason to come out than to support one of the star players in the game?

Now is the time for both Osborn and Miami fans to shine.