Off to their best start in history since rubbing elbows with the Miami Heat earlier this season, the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League Miami Rain believe the Heat’s championship aura is following them.

Miami Rain third-year coach Lester Patterson said playing an exhibition game at the AmericanAirlines Arena prior to the Heat’s matchup against the Bobcats in April, set a championship tone this season for the Rain (9-0), who host the Fort Lauderdale Lions in their season finale at Florida Memorial on Saturday at 7 p.m.

“Playing at the Arena gave us a jump start,” said Patterson, who has a combined 29-6 record. “It definitely took our mindset to a whole new level. For me personally, as a basketball coach to walk the same sidelines as Pat Riley and for the young ladies to play on the same court as superstars Dwyane Wade and LeBron James was huge.”

Patterson said an upgrade in speed and athleticism since last season has transformed the Suncoast South Division-leading Rain, which opens the Regional Tournament in Tampa next Saturday, into a serious national title contender.

Charmaine Clark, Jamie Skinner, Princess Bailey and Yvonne Houston lead a deep bench while Kiesha Alexander (16 ppg) Christina Rozier (13 ppg) and Sudanne Stewart (11.5) carry the scoring load.