Miami Wins 10th Game in 61-47 Victory Over Cornell
Jan. 2, 2009
CORAL GABLES – The University of Miami women’s basketball team (10-4) won its last non-conference game before their ACC schedule begins with a 61-47 victory over the Cornell Big Red (4-6), Friday night at the BankUnited Center.
For the third time this season the Hurricanes forced a total of 31 turnovers and for the 10th time this season, Miami has won a game. The 10 victories surpasses the nine wins that the `Canes recorded a season ago.
Miami was led on offense by the explosive freshman out of Pahokee, Fla., Riquna Williams. The guard scored a season-high 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor, including two three-pointers.
Senior Latoya Drake scored 12 points for the second-straight contest. After earning UM Holiday All-Tournament honors earlier this week, Shenise Johnson had a complete game, scoring nine points with six rebounds, six steals and four assists.
Miami began the game very cold from the field, hitting just three of its first 14 shots. However, after trailing 11-6, five minutes and 30 seconds into the game, the Hurricanes closed the half on a 32-10 run. The UM surge was fueled by 11 points from Williams, including a layup that gave Miami the lead for good with 9:29 to go before the break. At the halftime buzzer, Johnson hit a three-pointer from the left wing giving the home squad a 38-21 lead.
The second half began as the first ended, with a Hurricane 7-0 run, extending the Miami lead to 45-21, the largest margin of the game.
Cornell outrebounded the `Canes 45-30 and shot a better percentage from the field, 44 percent compared to only 36 for Miami, but the Hurricane pressure was too much to overcome.
UM scored 31 points off of turnovers, compared to only two from the Big Red. Miami protected the ball extremely well, turning the ball over a season-low eight times and only three times in the second half.
Cornell was led by Shanna Scarselletta, who scored 14 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Virginia McMunigal also scored in double-figures with 10 points.
The Hurricanes will have two days to prepare for the Clemson Tigers in the ACC opener for both teams. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. in the first game of a men’s and women’s double-header, Monday night at the BankUnited Center. The Hurricane men will be playing Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m. For ticket information, please call 1-800-Go-Canes or visit hurricanesports.com.
