Miami Women's Basketball Opens Season with Halloween Exhibition

Miami Women's Basketball Opens Season with Halloween Exhibition

Oct. 29, 2008

CORAL GABLES – The University of Miami women’s basketball team will play their first preseason exhibition game, this Friday, Oct. 31 at the BankUnited Center at 7 p.m.

Mike White All-Stars at MiamiFriday, Oct. 31, 2008 / BankUnited Center / Coral Gables, Fla. / 7 p.m.TV: None Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM Web/Live Stats: www.hurricanesports.com Internet Video: None Internet Audio: www.wvum.org

Miami will play in their first competitive game of the 2008-09 season when they take on the Mike White All-Stars on Friday. The Hurricanes return nine players from last year’s squad and welcome a heralded group of newcomers.

Senior LaToya Cunningham led all returners with 6.7 points per game last season and will be counted on to be the on the court leader once again, as she has been voted team captain for the third consecutive season. She will be joined in the back court by sophomore Epiphany Woodson, who scored 6.4 points per game in an impressive freshman campaign.

Woodson and Cunningham will be joined by familiar faces on the perimeter as sophomores, Briyana Blair, Damisha Moore and Vitalija Vasciunaite return for their second seasons. Freshmen Shenise Johnson and Riquna Williams bring an endless supply of potential to this already talented lineup.

Seniors Lamese James and Latoya Drake will be joined by juniors Diane Barnes and Charmaine Clark in an experienced front court. Junior transfer Ashley Sours and freshmen newcomers, Rikiah Gatlin and Sylvia Bullock will provide needed depth this season for the `Canes.

The Mike White All-Stars is a team composed of nine former NCAA Division I athletes that played at schools such as Florida, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Minnesota, West Virginia, Coppin State, Georgia State and St. Johns.

The Hurricanes are the first of eight college teams that the All-Stars will play against in the coming weeks, including games against Florida State, NC State, North Carolina and Boston College of the ACC.

Miami will face Division II Barry in their second exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 8 in the first game of a men’s and women’s double header. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. with the men’s game to follow.