Women's Basketball Claims Tournament Title
Dec. 29, 2002
CORAL GABLES, Fla.-Meghan Saake (Wellington, Fla.) was named Most Valuable Player of the Gatorade Holiday Classic for the second year in a row after leading the University of Miami women’s basketball to a 97-66 victory over Maryland to claim the championship title Sunday night at Knight Sports Complex.
Miami (8-3) remains a perfect 7-0 at home this season, winning the tournament for the third year in a row.
Maryland falls to 6-5 on the season. William & Mary (4-5) claimed the consolation title after defeating Cleveland State (1-8) 78-71 in the first game of the afternoon.
Saake averaged 17.0 points, five rebounds, six steals and six assists in the tournament.
Freshman Tamara James (Dania, Fla.) was also selected to the all-tournament team after averaging 20.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Junior Shaquana Wilkins (Plymouth, Fla.) averaged a double-double in the tournament with 13.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.
The Hurricanes opened the game on a 9-0 run Melissa Knight (Philadelphia, Pa.) hit a three-pointer with 16:30 remaining in the half to give UM the double-digit lead.
Miami maintained the double-digit lead in the first half leading 50-34 at halftime.
The Terps cut Miami’s lead to eight points with nine minutes remaining in the game, that was the closest they would come as Knight hit a jumper on the next possession giving UM the double-digit lead 68-58.
Knight’s jumper sparked an 11-0 run by the Hurricanes to seal the win.
Knight scored a career-high 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field and three-of-four from beyond the arc.
The Hurricanes are back in action Saturday as they open BIG EAST play on the road facing Georgetown.
2002 Gatorade Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team
Erika Roudebush (Cleveland State)
Jen Sobota (William & Mary)
Delvona Oliver (Maryland)
Renneika Razor (Maryland)
Tamara James (Miami)
MVP- Meghan Saake (Miami)
