Women's Basketball Season Kicks Off With Hoopfest `08
Oct. 18, 2008
CORAL GABLES – The University of Miami women’s basketball team publicly opened the 2008-09 season at Hoopfest ’08, Saturday afternoon at the BankUnited Center.
Fans were able to see both the men’s and women’s basketball teams practice in half-hour time slots before an autograph session, featuring all 29 student atheletes from both teams and head coaches Katie Meier and Frank Haith.
The men’s team opened the event with a full five-on-five scrimmage and ended their practice with a three-man, full-court shooting drill.
Coach Meier’s squad began their practice will full court lay-up lines, before running a fast break drill with three players at a time. The women ran a five-on-five scrimmage the remainder of their session. During the scrimmage sophomore Epiphany Woodson showed the crowd what she had worked on in the off season- sinking shot after shot.
After the practices, Coach Meier addressed the fans, urging support for both the men’s and women’s programs for the upcoming season. Another topic Meier touched on was that of raising awareness for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
Later this season, Meier will be joined by coach Haith and Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt in a per plate fundraiser named the “Yow Chow”. All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Yow enters her 34th season as the Head Coach of fellow ACC school, NC State.
Earlier in the day, Meier and director of women’s basketball operations Rachel Sander raised funds and cancer awareness by participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure at Bayfront Park.
Hoopfest ’08 wrapped up with an autograph session, where all attending fans were provided with a complimentary poster and had the opportunity to get autographs from their favorite Hurricanes.
The women’s basketball team will play in their first game this season in an exhibition with the Mike White All-Stars Halloween night at 7 p.m. at the BankUnited Center. The regular season will begin at home against Norfolk State on Friday, November 14 at noon.
