Hurricanes to Face In-State Rival Florida State

Hurricanes to Face In-State Rival Florida State

Feb. 21, 2009

CORAL GABLES – The University of Miami women’s basketball team will travel to Tallahassee, Fla. to take on the No. 11/12 Florida State Seminoles, Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

Miami (13-13, 2-9) at No. 11/12 Florida State (22-5, 10-1)

Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009 / Donald L. Tucker Civic Center / Tallahassee, Fla. / 1 p.m.

TV: None
Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM
Web/Live Stats: hurricanesports.com
Internet Video: ACCSelect.com
Internet Audio: www.wvum.org

Miami comes off one of its best performances of the season against the Virginia Cavaliers, but came up just short of an upset bid, falling 84-75 in overtime. In that game, the Cavs reached the foul line 44 times to only 18 for the `Canes. In the end it proved to be too much for the young Miami squad to overcome, despite leading much of the game.

Freshman Shenise Johnson’s performance was the best by any Hurricane in recent memory as she scored a career-high and team season-high 25 points. The Henrietta, N.Y. native also dished out a career-high 10 assists and was one rebound short of recording her first triple-double. However, the double-double was the fifth on the season for the Freshman All-American candidate.

Senior captain LaToya Cunningham played each of the game’s 45 minutes and hit three three-pointers on her way to 11 points on the night.

A Look at The Seminoles
Florida State enters Sunday afternoon’s game with a 22-5 overall record and a first-place 10-1 Atlantic Coast Conference record. Their only conference loss came to Maryland by one point on Feb. 2.

The Seminoles are led by Jacinta Monroe who is averaging 13.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Tanae Davis-Cain and Mara Freshour score 12.7 and 10.6 points per game respectively.

Florida State is averaging 71.3 points and 41.4 rebounds per game as a team. It is shooting 42.6 percent (678-1593) from the floor, 38.2 percent (148-387) from beyond the arc and 66.9 (421-629) from the free throw line. The Seminoles also register 8.5 steals and 4.6 blocked shots per outing, while holding their opponents to 60.2 points per game and a shooting percentage of 36.8 (575-1562).

The Series
The Seminoles hold a 27-7 all-time advantage against the Hurricanes and have won the last seven meetings in the series. Earlier this season at the BankUnited Center, Florida State pulled away late in the very tight game for the 75-59 win.

Last season, both contests between the two teams came down to the wire, with Florida State winning in overtime in Coral Gables, then surviving a last-second game winner from Maurita Reid at the Civic Center.