Women's Basketball Tabbed Seventh In Preseason Poll

Oct. 28, 1999

NEWARK, N.J. – The University of Miami women’s basketball team wasselected to finish seventh by a vote of the leagues’ coaches at the 1999 BIGEAST Women’s Basketball Media Day in Newark, NJ.

Connecticut (142 points) received 10 first-place votes in garneringpreseason top honors. Rutgers (135) received three first place votes inbeing selected second followed by Notre Dame (121), Boston College (112),Georgetown (90) and Villanova (86). Miami, which returns seven letterwinnersfrom last season’s 15-14 squad, received 79 points.

The Hurricanes will be led this season by senior point guard GinaGraziani (Cooper City HS). Graziani, who has started 78 of 82 career games,finished last season ranked 15th in the nation in assists with a 6.4 pergame average. Graziani has led the BIG EAST in assists in two of the lastthree seasons and needs only 133 assists this season to move into firstplace on Miami’s career list.

Rounding out the preseason coaches’ poll was Syracuse (59), St.John’s (46), Pittsburgh (44), Seton Hall (39), Providence (38) and WestVirginia (23).

Miami opens up its 1999-00 schedule with five straight home gamesagainst Furman (11/21), Eastern Kentucky (11/24), Tulane (11/28), Florida(12/1) and Florida International (12/4). For ticket information call theHurricane ticket office at (305) 284-CANES in Dade or 1-800-GOCANES.

1999-00 BIG EAST Coaches’ Preseason Poll

1.  Connecticut (10)   1422.  Rutgers      (3)   1353.  Notre Dame         1214.  Boston College     1125.  Georgetown          906.  Villanova           867.  MIAMI               798.  Syracuse            599.  St. John's          4610. Pittsburgh          4411. Seton Hall          3912. Providence          3813. West Virginia       23