Hurricanes Head to Virginia Wednesday for WNIT Second Round

March 21, 2006

CORAL GABLES, Fla. –

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Miami takes to the road Wednesday for the second round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), traveling to Charlottesville, Va. to face ACC foe Virginia at University Hall at 7 p.m.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Miami (17-12) at Virginia (19-11)

March 22, 2006 / 7:00 p.m. / Charlottesville, Va. / University Hall

Series: Third meeting; UVA leads 2-1

Last: UVA won 77-65 at UM (1/22/06)

TV: None

Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM

Web: www.hurricanesports.com

First-year head coach Katie Meier and the Hurricanes are coming off a 95-83 WNIT first round win over cross-town rival FIU Saturday night in Coral Gables, marking UM’s first postseason victory since the 2001 WNIT.

Scoring 32 points against the Golden Panthers, senior All-America candidate Tamara James, who has scored 32 or more points in three of the last four games, surpassed former Hurricane Maria Rivera to become UM’s all-time leading scorer.

James, a First Team All-ACC selection, leads the ACC in scoring (21.2 ppg) and steals (3.10 spg). She ranks sixth in the league in rebounding (7.7 rpg).

Junior guard Renee Taylor, an All-ACC Honorable Mention selection, ranks second on the team and sixth in the ACC in scoring (15.6 ppg).

Coming off a 4-of-5 three-point effort against FIU, senior guard Melissa Knight is third on the team with 11.6 points per game. Knight, UM’s fifth-ranked all-time leader in three-pointers made and attempted, has hit 39.4 percent (29-50) from beyond the arc this season which is the third-highest single season percentage in school history.

Sophomore forward Lamese James has been one of UM’s most productive players of late averaging 11.0 points and 7.3 rebounds over the last three games.

Noting the Cavaliers

Virginia, who has won six of it’s last seven games, defeated St. Joe’s 48-42 Saturday night in Charlottesville to record it’s fourth-consecutive home victory.

The Cavaliers are led by sophomore guard Sharnee Zoll, a Third Team All-ACC selection who ranks first in the ACC in assists (6.13 apg) and fourth in steals (2.30 spg). Zoll is third on the team in scoring with 11.0 points per game.

Junior center Siedah Williams leads UVa with 11.7 points per game followed by senior forward Tiffany Sardin’s 11.1 points per game.

Sardin, Virginia’s lone senior, is the team leader in rebounding with 6.7 boards per game.

The Series vs. Virginia

This will mark the second meeting this season and fourth meeting between the Hurricanes and the Cavaliers. Virginia owns a 2-1 series advantage after knocking off the Hurricanes 77-65 earlier this season in a Jan. 22 match-up in Coral Gables. Miami’s lone victory against UVa came last season in a 66-60 victory at Virginia in UM’s only game at University Hall.

Earlier this season the Hurricanes were outscored 47-36 in the second half and 17-11 in the last five minutes of the game to suffer a loss to the Cavaliers at the BankUnited Center.

A Quick Look Ahead

Should the Hurricanes win, they will face the winner of Wednesday’s Mississippi-Pittsburgh game in the quarterfinals. Game date, time and location to be determined.