Hurricanes Open 2005-06 Season Friday Against Samford

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The GameMiami will officially tip-off the 2005-06 women’s basketball season Friday night when they play host to Samford at 7 p.m. at the Bank United Center.The Hurricanes The Hurricanes enter the 2005-06 season under the direction of first-year head coach Katie Meier who inherited the UM program in April of this year.

Meier leads a UM team that posted an overall mark of 13-16 with a 4-10 record in conference play last season in Miami’s inaugural campaign in the ACC – which was regarded as the nation’s top women’s basketball conference in 2004-05.

Miami returns a total of 10 players who have earned letters in the past two seasons, including National Player of the Year candidate and preseason All-ACC selection, senior forward Tamara James. Last season, James topped the ACC in scoring with 22.3 points per game, which ranked fourth nationally, to earn All-ACC First Team honors.

UM also welcomes back fifth-year senior guard Melissa Knight who returns to Miami after missing the entire 2004-05 season rehabbing an ACL injury. Knight averaged 9.3 points and 4.4 rebounds as a junior in 2003-04.

James and Knight are joined by fellow classmates, senior guard Katie Hayek (5.5 ppg) and senior guard/forward Tatjana Marincic (4.5 ppg), who combined for 9.9 points per game last season, along with junior center Amy Audibert (2.6 ppg) and sophomore guard Albrey Grimsley (6.0 ppg), who each recorded starts last season.

The BulldogsHead coach Mike Morris, who enters his fourth season at Samford, and the Bulldogs posted an overall record of 13-15 and a 6-10 mark in conference play to earn their first-ever Ohio Valley Conference Tournament appearance last season.

Samford returns six letterwinners and three starters from a year ago including senior guard Cora Beth Smith (10.2 ppg) who led the team in scoring. Junior guard Tish Pikerton (6.5 ppg) and junior forward Veronica Pike (9.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg) join Smith as the returning starters from a year ago.

The SeriesFriday’s game will mark the first meeting between the Hurricanes and the Bulldogs. Miami is 5-2 (.714) all-time against teams currently in the Ohio Valley Conference. UM hasn’t lost a game to a team currently in the OVC since the 1984-85 season when they fell to Eastern Kentucky in the Sunshine State Classic in Orlando, Fla.What to Watch ForFriday’s game will mark the season-opener for the Hurricanes and the first game in the Katie Meier era at UM. Senior forward Tamara James enters the game needing just six points to move into third place all-time at UM in scoring.Radio, Television and Internet BroadcastFriday’s game will be broadcast live on WVUM (90.5 FM) and can also be heard live on hurricanesports.com, which will also feature live scoring and stats.TicketsTickets are just $5 dollars for adults and $3 dollars for children and senior citizens. To purchase tickets or for more information please call the Hurricane Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES or visit online at hurricanesports.com.Game Promotions/GivawaysThe Alumni Association along with Category 5, the 2005 Homecoming Executive Committee, and Division of Student Affairs is sponsoring a pre-game party to celebrate Sebastian the Ibis’s 50th Birthday. Enjoy fair-style refreshments, games, giveaways, a signature cake by Ana Paz Cakes, and lots of Hurricane spirit. The event is free for alumni, students, employees and neighbors. RSVP is required for alumni, employees and neighbors. Call the Office of Alumni Relations at 305-284-2872 for your complimentary ticket. Event parking is available at the Ponce de Leon Garage.

University of Miami student-athletes will be handing out Thanksgiving Dinners at the women’s basketball game to selected organizations. The dinners are donated by Sysco Food Services of South Florida. The following organizations were selected to participate: Project Hope, Gladstone Center, Florida Baptist Home, Universal Truth Center, Child Hope, and South Miami Community Center. The organizations will watch the Hurricanes take on Samford at the Convocation Center and then pick up their dinners at half time.