Dec. 28, 2007

OXFORD - Doug Penno's game-winning three-pointer versus Akron in the Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Championship Game ranks as Miami University athletics' top moment of 2007, according to a poll of the RedHawks' 16 head coaches.

Miami's coaches were asked to rank the school's most memorable events from one to 10, and Penno's dramatic shot narrowly edged out the RedHawk volleyball team's MAC Championship victory over Ohio.

Miami ice hockey moments placed third and fourth in the poll. The hockey team's six-week reign at No. 1 in the nation received five more points than its 2-1 NCAA Tournament victory over host New Hampshire.

Ranking fifth on the list was the synchronized skating team's silver medal performance at the world championships last spring.

Just six points separated the sixth-through-tenth-place events. Coming in at No. 6 was Laura Neufarth's individual title at the MAC women's cross country championship meet. RedHawk coaches voted the department's record 85 percent graduation success rate as the seventh most memorable moment. In eighth place was volleyball's improbable victory at Ohio in September which ended the Bobcats' 52-match MAC winning streak. No. 9 was the men's basketball team's dramatic victory over Xavier last month. And ranking tenth was the RedHawk baseball team's 6-2 victory at nationally ranked Texas last March.

"These top ten moments are particularly significant because they were chosen by our head coaches," said Brad Bates, Miami University's director of athletics. "This list is a great balance of both team and individual accomplishment. I am particularly proud that our intellectual achievement rated among the most memorable moments."

MIAMI'S TOP TEN ATHLETIC MOMENTS OF 2007

1. Doug Penno's three-point vs. Akron gives Miami a ticket to the Big Dance

2. RedHawk volleyball defeats Ohio to win the MAC championship

3. Miami ice hockey holds No. 1 ranking for six consecutive weeks

4. RedHawk ice hockey claims first-ever NCAA tournament win, defeating New Hampshire

5. MU's synchronized skating team earns Silver medal at ISU World Championships

6. Cross Country's Laura Neufarth wins MAC individual crown

7. Miami athletics' graduation success rate hits record 85%

8. RedHawk volleyball snaps Ohio's 52-match MAC winning streak

9. Bramos and Pollitz lead Miami basketball past Xavier

10. Miami baseball bashes Texas in Austin

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