UM Falls In Final

Dec. 29, 1999

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami (5-4, 0-0 BIG EAST) dropped a 76-55 decision to Southern Methodist (5-5, 0-1 WAC) in the title game of the 1999 Gatorade Hurricane Holiday Classic at the Knight Sports Complex at the Coral Gables campus on Wednesday.

The Hurricanes were held to .286 shooting from the field, hitting only 16-of-56 attempts from the floor.. The game was tied at nine apiece at the 13:02 mark before the Mustangs went on a 19-4 run to take a 15 point lead. SMU then extended the lead to 19 by halftime. Dona Nando scored a team-high 15 points in 12 minutes of action. Senior point guard Gina Graziani finished with 12 points and five assists. Graziani and sophomore Sheila James were named to the all-tournament team.

SMU’s Karlin Kennedy (19 points, 9 rebounds ) was named the tournament MVP. D-dra Rucker was also named to the all-tournament team and finished with 16 points.

Maryland (8-3, 0-1 ACC) defeated Brown (4-6, 0-0 Ivy) in the consolation game, 98-47. Tiffany Brown scored a team-high 21 points en route to be named to the all-tournament squad. Marche Strickland (20) and Deedee Warley (16) also scored in double figures for the Terrapins.

Rounding out the all-tourney team was Brown’s Barbara Maloni. She led the Bears with nine points while playing a team-high 39 minutes.

The Hurricanes return to action Sunday, January 2 when they host Atlantic 10 foe Temple. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m. at the Knight Sports Complex on the Coral Gables campus. For ticket information call 305-284-CANES or 800-GO-CANES.

1999 Gatorade Hurricane Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team:

Gina Graziani – Miami
Tiffany Brown – Maryland
D-dra Rucker – Southern Methodist
Barbara Maloni – Brown
Sheila James – Miami

MVP
Karlin Kennedy – Southern Methodist