Women's Basketball to Face Indiana in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

May 2, 2008

CORAL GABLES – The <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>University of Miami women’s basketball team will play host to Indiana in the 2008 ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Fri., Dec. 5, at the BankUnitedCenter.  The time has yet to be determined.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

“This is a great event for both the ACC and the Big Ten,” said head coach Katie Meier.  “We are thrilled to bring the ACC/Big Challenge back to the BankUnitedCenter.  The high level of competition and the exciting brand of basketball that both the Hoosiers and our team play will be entertaining for our fans.”

The Hurricanes lead the Hoosiers in the all-time series, 1-0, after defeating IU, 79-70, in the championship game of the UM Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 26, 2006, in Coral Gables.

Meier added, “This will be a special opportunity, early in the season for our team to be challenged and tested.”

The 2008 challenge will open on Wednesday, Dec. 3, as Georgia Tech hosts Michigan State, Ohio State welcomes North Carolina, and FloridaState takes on PennState. Thursday, Dec. 4 will feature six games as Clemson hosts Northwestern, Purdue takes on Maryland, Illinois faces Virginia, Minnesota plays host to BostonCollege, Duke welcomes Iowa and Wisconsin plays Virginia Tech. The challenge wraps up with Miami hosting Indiana, while Michigan hosts NC State on same day.

The ACC/Big Ten Women’s Basketball Challenge matches 11 teams from each conference in head-to-head competition traditionally on the first Wednesday, Thursday or Friday after Thanksgiving, following the men’s basketball ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Last year, the ACC won eight of the 11 inaugural Big Ten/ACC Challenge games.

Last season, Miami hosted Michigan in the inaugural event, at the BankUnitedCenter.