Miami Cruises to 66-49 Victory Over FIU
Nov. 25, 2008
MIAMI – The University of Miami women’s basketball team (2-2) utilized it’s depth in a convincing 66-49 win over the FIU Golden Panthers (0-4) at FIU’s U.S. Century Bank Arena Tuesday night.
Three-point shooting doomed Miami in their last game against Houston, but LaToya Cunningham turned the tables on FIU as she hit a career-high five shots from behind the arc. The senior captain scored 16 points to lead all scorers, the most since a 17-point effort a season ago against Milwaukee.
Freshman Shenise Johnson recorded her second double-double of the season. The talented first-year player scored 12 point and grabbed 12 rebounds on the night.
Most of the first half was played evenly, but with 1:54 to go before the break and the Golden Panthers leading 26-24, the Hurricanes ended the half with a 9-0 run. Fueled by five Riquna Williams points, Miami went into the locker room with a 33-26 lead and would never look back.
The second half picked up where the first left off, as Miami pushed their lead to a game-high 19 points at the 12:46 mark. Cunningham hit three of her three-pointers in a one-minute span during, as the `Canes went on a 21-9 run to open the second period.
In all, 10 Hurricane players scored on the night, many of them set-up by Charmaine Clark’s career-high seven assists. The junior also scored six points to go with her four rebounds.
The win was Miami’s first victory at FIU since the 1998 season and the first over FIU in any venue since March of 2006. It also snaps a seven-game road losing streak for the `Canes, that began at Georgia Tech on Jan. 13.
The Hurricanes will host the UM Thanksgiving Tournament this Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29. Miami opens with Austin Peay in the 7 p.m. contest as Santa Clara and Chicago State will open the tourney at 5 p.m. on Friday. There has been a schedule change for Saturday’s lineup. Miami will play at approximately 5:45 p.m. no matter their result on Friday.
This change is due to the Hurricane men’s hoops tipping off against Stetson at 3:30 p.m. Tickets purchased for the women’s game will be honored with 10 minutes remaining in the men’s contest. For ticket information, please call 1-800-Go-Canes or visit hurricanesports.com
