Miami Pulls Away From SIU-Edwardsville, 83-72
Feb. 4, 2009
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The University of Miami women’s basketball team (12-10, 1-6) overcame early foul trouble and outpaced the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars (5-19) in the second-half for the 83-72 final at the Vadalabene Center.Junior Ashley Sours had her best game as a Hurricane as she scored a career-high and team-leading 16 points on the night. The 6-5 center had a six-inch height advantage over SIU-Edwardsville’s tallest player, Jenny Wuest at 5-11.
Sours also tied for the team-high with five rebounds in a game where Miami outrebounded its opponent for the first-time in 13 games. The Glendale, Ariz. native also had four blocks. As a team, the Hurricanes swatted away a season-high 10 shots.
Freshman Shenise Johnson began the game on a hot streak, scoring 13 first-half points. The two-time ACC Rookie of the Week was limited to only two-points via free-throws after the break, due to foul trouble. Johnson ended the night with five assists one shy of the team-high, which belonged to Charmaine Clark, who had six.
Four different Hurricanes scored in double-figure, joining Sours and Johnson was Clark with 10 points and senior LaToya Cunningham with 11.
The Cougars held their own in the first half. Kate Affourtit scored 14-points and nailed three-three pointers against the foul-ridden Hurricanes, who led by only two at the break at 38-36.
Miami’s defense stepped up to open the second-half as it forced two shot-clock violations by SIU Edwardsville in the first two minutes, allowing the `Canes to open up a more comfortable lead.
The Hurricanes had their best shooting game of the season by far, as they ripped the nylon on 61.8 percent of their shots and limited their opponent to only 33.8 percent shooting. Led by Sours, Miami dominated the paint as they outscored the home team 50-22. The `Canes’ bench also outscored the Cougars’ 33-20.
A quartet of SIU-Edwardsville players also scored in double-figures, led by Wuest’s 19.
The Hurricanes will host in-state rival and No. 15/19 ranked Florida State on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. For ticket information, please call 1-800-Go-Canes or visit hurricanesports.com.
