Women's Basketball Gears Up For Florida Atlantic
Dec. 10, 1999
Miami Hurricanes (3-2)
vs. Florida Atlantic (1-3)
December 11, 1999 – 7:30 p.m.
FAU Gymnasium, Boca Raton, FL
THE MATCHUP….
This is the 11th meeting between the two schools. Miamiholds the series advantage 10-0. The Hurricanes won last year’s contest,91-57, at the Knights Sports Complex on Dec. 16, 1998. The last time theseschools met at the FAU Gymnasium, UM came away with a 105-64 win on Dec. 14,1997. It was an offensive outburst of sorts for UM as Octavia Blue scorchedFAU for 40 points, Kym Hope was not far behind with 33. During the Labatiera (1988-present), UM holds a 8-0 advantage. The ‘Canes average margin ofvictory is 25.6 over the Owls.
UM is 3-2 on the season with wins over Furman (88-46), EasternKentucky (83-66) and Florida International (76-61). The Hurricanes twolosses came against Tulane (75-66) and Florida (85-77). Miami is ledoffensively by Sheila James (15.2 ppg., 4.4 rpg.), Gina Graziani (10.8 ppg.,7.4 apg.) and Alicia Hartlaub (10.2 ppg., 8.4 rpg.).
Probable Starting Lineups
Miami Hurricanes - (3-2), 0-0 BIG EASTPos. No. Player Ht. Cl. PPG. Misc.F 34 Alicia Hartlaub 6-2 FR 10.2 8.4 rpg.F 25 Meghan Saake 5-10 FR 9.4 4.0 rpg. C 41 Camilla Oesth 6-2 JR 8.0 3.6 rpg.G 5 Sheila James 5-5 SO 15.2 4.4 rpg.G 13 Gina Graziani 5-8 SR 10.8 7.4 apg.
Head Coach: Ferne Labati
Florida Atlantic – (1-3), 0-0 Trans America Pos. No. Player Ht. Cl. PPG. Misc.F 14 Barbora Deckerova 6-1 SR 7.3 5.0 rpg.F 34 Kristy Halvorsen 6-1 SO 5.3 6.0 rpg.C 31 Sheridan Andrews 6-1 SR 20.5 4.3 rpg.G 42 Sanja Culina 6-2 SR 8.8 3.0 rpg.G 24 Rita Mosley 5-7 SR 12.3 3.5 rpg.
Head Coach: Chancellor Dugan
LAST TIME OUT….
UM defeated Florida International , 76-61, on Saturday,Dec. 4 at the Knight Sports Complex. The Hurricanes took the lead into thehalf after Dona Nando nailed a half-court three at the buzzer. FourHurricanes scored in double-figures led by James’ 19 points, Graziani’s 15,Meghan Saake’s 13 and Hartlaub’s 12. Hartlaub fell just one rebound shy ofa double-double, leading the team with nine.
HEAD COACH FERNE LABATI…
Labati is the all-time winningest coach at theUniversity of Miami. In her 12th season at the helm, Labati’s record standsat 207-119 (.634). She has led her teams to six berths in post season play,four trips to the NCAA tournament and two to the Women’s NIT. The ‘Caneshave made two consecutive post season appearances, the 1998-99 trip to theNCAA tourney and last year’s invitation to the WNIT. The Hurricanes wonback-to-back BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles in 1992 and 1993,while finishing as high as No. 6 nationally. Her 1996-97 team won a shareof the BIG EAST 7 division title.
ANOTHER MILESTONE…
With just seven more wins, Hurricane head coach FerneLabati will reach the 350 career-win plateau. Labati is in 21st year as ahead coach with an overall record of 343-241. That record includes fiveseasons spent at Trenton State College (80-61), four seasons at FairleighDickinson (56-61) and her time spent here in Coral Gables (207-119). OnJanuary 25, 1996, she became the all-time winningest coach at the Universityof Miami, surpassing Lin Dunn with 150 wins at UM. With that win, shebecame only the second men’s or women’s basketball coach to reach the150-win plateau. On February 2, 1997 Labati became the 59th women’sbasketball coach in NCAA history to win 300 career games in a 70-56 win overVillanova.
THE FERNE LABATI SHOW…
Coach Labati’s half-hour show will be broadcastFriday’s at 5 p.m. on SportsChannel beginning January 15, 2000. The show’stopic will focus on the Hurricanes progress throughout the year but willalso include human interest features as well as basketball tips for youngHurricanes.
PRESEASON HYPE..
Announced at the 1999 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball MediaLuncheon on Oct. 28, The University of Miami women’s basketball team wasselected to finish seventh by a vote of the league’s coaches.
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 sevenletterwinners from last season’s 15-14 squad, received 79 points. Rounding out the preseason coaches’ poll was Syracuse (59), St. John’s (46),Pittsburgh (44), Seton Hall (39), Providence (38) and West Virginia (23).
THE DISH ON GRAZIANI…
Senior guard Gina Graziani is in her final seasondonning the Orange and Green. She has led the Hurricanes in assists in eachof the previous three seasons. She led the BIG EAST conference in thatcategory during both her freshman and sophomore campaigns. She needs lessthan 100 assists to become the BIG EAST career leader in assists. Thesenior is currently in second place all-time at UM with 598 assists andneeds 96 to take over the No. 1 spot held by Jeannie Hebert (694).
CAREER ASSISTS
1. Jeannie Hebert (119 games, 1988-92) 694
2. GINA GRAZIANI (84 games, 1996-present) 598
3. Loretta Harvey (122 games, 1981-84) 588
4. Maria Rivera (112 games, 1984-88) 487
5. Robin Harmony (125 games, 1980-84) 445
6. Elaine Harlow (115 games, 1986-90) 432
7. Della Wilson (86 games, 1990-93) 351
8. Frances Savage (94 games, 1988-92) 226
9. Ronnie McGarry (117 games, 1990-94) 215
10. Carla Harris (92 games, 1990-93) 207
MIAMI INKS TWO DURING SIGNING PERIOD:
Head women’s basketball coach FerneLabati announces the signing of Shannon Presswood and Shaquana Wilkins tonational letters of intent to attend the University of Miami next fall.
Presswood, a 6-4 center out of Orangeville, Ontario, Canada led theOrangeville District Secondary School to the 1998-99 bronze medal at theOntario “AA” Championship last year. As a junior, she averaged 18.0 pointsand 9.0 rebounds per game. In addition, Presswood has spent the last threeyears playing for the Royal City Rebels club team. Last season, she scored21 points and 10 rebounds per game while leading the Rebels to the Ontario”AA” consolation championship. She chose UM over East Carolina, Toledo andWest Virginia.
Wilkins, a 6-2 forward out of Orlando, Florida, attends Winter Park Highschool where as a junior she helped her team to a 24-4 overall record. Herteam earned a spot in the Florida High School Athletic Association RegionalTournament while Wilkins averaged 15.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per gamewhile shooting 53.4% from the floor. Wilkins also plays for the OrlandoWarriors AAU team, averaging 13.5 ppg and 9.3 rpg. The Warriors finished13th in the AAU National Championships this past summer.
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN….
Head Coach Ferne Labati announces the captains forthe 1999-2000 basketball season. Senior Gina Graziani was selected as teamcaptain while junior Camilla …sth was chosen to serve as co-captain.
HOME SWEET HOME….
The ‘Canes opened the season 3-2, defeating Furman(88-46), Eastern Kentucky (83-66) and Florida International (76-61). UM’ stwo losses came at the hands of Tulane (75-66) and Florida (85-77). Today’scontest marks the first road game for the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes playedtheir first five contests of the 1999-2000 season on familiar territory atthe Knight Sports Complex. This is the first time in program history thatUM has played more than the first three games of the season at home. UMplayed the first three games at home in 1975-76, going 1-2 and then again in1989-90 in Labati’s second season at the Gables. That year, the Hurricaneswent 3-0, defeating Florida (76-61), Niagara (88-52) and Arizona (85-65).
WE GOT NEXT….
Following the FAU contest, the Hurricanes will play in theOrange Bowl Fab Four on Sunday, December 19. UM is slayed to face No. 4North Carolina State at 2 p.m.
PLAYING THE BEST….
During the 1999-2000 season, the Hurricanes are slatedto play four teams ranked in the the AP Top 25 as of November 22. No. 4N.C. State will travel to South Florida to participate in the Orange BowlFab Four on December 19. The ‘Canes open their BIG EAST schedule January 5on the road vs. No. 13 Rutgers. UM hosts No. 7 Notre Dame on January 22.UM will face No. 1 Connecticut on January 29 at the Miami Arena and thenagain on February 8 in Storrs. Opponents Tulane and Florida and BostonCollege are all receiving votes.
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN….
The BIG EAST Conference has three member schools inthe AP Top 25 poll as of December 6. Connecticut checks in at No. 1followed by No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 13 Rutgers. Boston College is alsoreceiving votes.
PLAYING LIKE A VETERAN….
Guard Amanda Papuga looked anything but green inher first appearance in a collegiate game. Papuga came off the bench toscore 19 points, shooting 9-for-12 from the field. She had a team-high sixdishes and garnered two thefts in 21 minutes of play. For her performancein the win over Furman (88-46), she was named BIG EAST Rookie of the Week.
NO SMALL FEAT….
Listed at a mere 5-5, guard Sheila James is one of thesmallest player on the UM roster but her play is anything but small. Jamesscored a career-high and team-leading 21 points in UM’s rout of Furman(88-46). James shot 8-for-15 from the field including a 5-for-7 effort fromthe arc. The guard also picked up four steals and five assists. Shemanaged 12 points , four rebounds and three steals in the win over EasternKentucky. She led the ‘Canes in scoring against Florida and FloridaInternational with 19 points. For the season she is averaging 15.2 ppg and4.4 rpg.
FOWLER UP-FRONT….
Sophomore Kathryn Fowler (New York/Christ the King) hasbeen a force to be reckoned with this season. She has led the team inrebounding in two of three games games this season, averaging 6.0 anoutting. She recorded her first career double-double vs. EKU grabbing 11rebounds and matching that output with 11 points. Fowler was close to thesame feat in the season-opener when she scored seven points and snagged ninerebounds.
SEEING DOUBLE….
Senior Gina Graziani recorded back-to-back double-doublesagainst Eastern Kentucky and Tulane, giving her 7 in her career. She scored16 points and recorded 11 dished in the win over EKU and had 11 points and10 assists in the loss to Tulane.
