The Hurricanes Face No. 21 Virginia Tech

Feb. 13, 2004

BLACKSBURG, Va.-The University of Miami women’s basketball team travels to face No. 21 Virginia Tech Saturday at 2 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va.

The Hurricanes (17-4, 6-4 BIG EAST) enter the contest on the winning path after beating St. John’s 85-74 Tuesday night in Coral Gables, Fla.

Virginia Tech (17-5, 6-5 BIG EAST) enters the contest after falling 69-66 at West Virginia Tuesday night.

Miami is currently in seventh place in the BIG EAST standings at 6-4, while Virginia Tech is in eighth place at 6-5.

This will be the fifth meeting between Miami and Virginia Tech. The all-time series is tied at 2-2. Miami has won the last two meetings. VT won the first two meetings in Blacksburg, while UM won the last two in Coral Gables.

The last two meetings have been decided by two points or less. The last meeting between the two teams was a one-point overtime victory for Miami.

Sophomore Tamara James is leading the list of 12 sophomores in the nation approaching the 1,000 point career-mark. James scored 650 (21.0 ppg) points last season and has 326 (16.3 ppg) so far this season putting her career total at 976 (24 points shy of 1,000) entering Saturday’scontest with Virginia Tech.

James leads the team in scoring with 16.3 points per game and Shaquana Wilkins leads the team with 8.1 rebounds per game. Four of Miami’s starting five average double figures.

Three starters are averaging double figures with Ieva Kublina leading the team with 14.2 points per game. Carrie Mason and Dawn Chriss average 11.2 and 10.8 points respectively.

The game will be broadcast live on WVUM-90.5 FM or via the internet at hurricanesports.com.