DOUBLE TROUBLE: Amber Tretter has 31 double-doubles (third-best in program history) in her career and has recorded 1,155 points (21st in program history) and 796 rebounds (sixth in program history). She has a chance to become just the second player at Miami to record 1,000 career points and rebounds and was named first team All-MAC in 2025-26. She was also honored this preseason as one of the top-25 mid-major players in the nation by the Becky Hammon Watch List.
REDHAWKS OPEN SEASON WITH 59-52 WIN OVER JAMES MADISON: Juliana LaMendola poured in 24 points and nine rebounds, while Addison Baxter added 13 points and five steals in Miami’s 59-52 home victory over James Madison on Monday night.
NEWCOMERS SHINE IN DEBUT: Miami returns four players from last season’s historic run, but the newcomers shined in the 2026-27 season opener. 51 of Miami’s 59 points were scored by newcomers, while Amber Tretter (first-team All-MAC in 2025-26) and Amber Scalia (2026 MAC Tournament MVP) combined for just three points.
LAMENDOLA SHINES BRIGHTEST: As mentioned earlier, Julianna LaMendola scored 24 points in her Miami debut on Monday night. She is the first RedHawk to score 20-plus points in her debut since Ivy Wolf had 22 points back on Nov. 10, 2021.
BAXTER’S BEST: Addison Baxter played in 23 games last season at Butler and in one game with the Red and White, nearly established new career-bests across the board. She scored 13 points versus JMU (career-high was 14), had five steals (previous high was four) and matched her career best in field goals (5), three pointers (2) and blocks (1). She also played 38 minutes versus the Dukes (previous high was 28).
ABOUT SEMO: Southeast Missouri is coming off a 77-40 loss to Missouri State on Monday evening. Madison Ayers led the squad with eight points and three rebounds in the season-opening loss.
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the first meeting between the two programs.
HISTORIC BASKETBALL SEASON: Miami basketball reached heights not seen in a long time in Oxford, Ohio. Combined with the women’s 28-7 record and the men’s 32-2 record, Miami basketball went 60-9 overall in 2025-26. Both teams played in the NCAA Tournament and the men’s team won an NCAA contest in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.
PROGRAM BUILDER: Miami has improved every year under Coach Box. In his first year the RedHawks went 9-20 (6-12 MAC) and followed that up with a 19-12 (11-7 MAC) record, the second-best single-season turnaround in program history. Last season the RedHawks captured their first regular season championship with a 28-7 overall and 16-2 MAC record.
2025-26 SEASON RECAP: Miami captured its first regular season championship since the 2003-04 season, and went 28-7 overall and 16-2 in MAC play. Miami also won the MAC Tournament.
• The 28 wins were the most in program history, while the 16 conference wins were second-best.
• Miami’s 28 wins were tied for 12th most in MAC history.
• Miami opened conference play 11-0, the best start in program history.
• 22 of Miami’s 28 wins were by double digits.
• Three of Miami’s seven losses were by two possessions or less.
• Glenn Box was named MAC Coach of the Year, Miami’s first Coach of the Year since 2004.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS: Coach Box has preached defense since the day he has arrived on campus and last season was no different.
• Miami ranked 44th in the country, allowing 59.1 points per contest in 2025-26.
• The RedHawks held 17-of-18 MAC opponents under their season scoring average during the regular season.
• Miami was 34th nationally in turnovers forced per game (19.9).
• The RedHawks held James Madison to 52 points and recorded 14 steals versus the Dukes to begin 2026-27.
NUMBER WATCH:
• With her next triple, Núria Jurjo will have made 50 three pointers in her career.
• Amber Scalia is three free throws away from 350 career makes from the charity stripe. She is also 16 points shy of 1,600 career points between Miami and St. Thomas.
• Amber Tretter is nine three pointers away from 100. She is also four rebounds shy of 800 for her career and 10 away from moving into fifth all-time in program history.
HOME SWEET HOME: For the first time in program history, Miami women’s basketball went undefeated at home during the 2025-26 season (14-0). The RedHawks have currently won 15-straight games inside Millett Hall.
NEW, BUT NOT YOUNG: Despite 10 new players on the roster, the RedHawks feature an experienced squad. Overall, the 14 players have combined to play in 733 games and make 373 starts. They have also combined to score in double figures 242 times.
128 AND COUNTING: Amber Scalia will be competing in her 128th career game on Thursday. Prior to joining the RedHawks, Scalia played in 91 games over three years at St. Thomas, where she scored 1,091 points and shot 34% from long distance. She has scored 1,584 points (12.4/game), connected on 211 three pointers and is a career 40% shooter from the field over her career. Her 1,584 points ranks 127th among active scorers in the country.
Source: miamiredhawks.com
