Miami Faces Boston College in Opening Round of ACC Tournament
March 4, 2009
Watch Postgame Press Conference Live!
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Miami women’s basketball team will participate in the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum and will face the Boston College Eagles at 6 p.m.
Miami (13-16, 2-11) vs. Boston College (19-10, 7-7)
Thursday, March 5, 2009 / Greensboro Coliseum / Greensboro, N.C.. / 6 p.m.
TV: None
Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM
Web/Live Stats: hurricanesports.com
Internet Video: ACCSelect.com
Internet Audio: www.wvum.org
For the second straight season, Miami enters the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament with a 2-12 conference record. However, this year the Hurricanes they will play a first round opponent other than Georgia for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
Miami ended the regular season with a brutal five game stretch, all losses, that included four top-25 teams; Virginia, Florida State, North Carolina and Maryland. The Hurricanes took the Cavaliers to overtime and fell to Florida State in the game’s final moments.
Shenise Johnson, who was named to the ACC All-Freshman team and earned an All-ACC Honorable Mention nod, leads Miami with 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.14 assists per game in her first collegiate season.
A Look at Boston College
Boston College enters Thursday night’s tournament opener with a 19-10 overall record and finished its ACC schedule with an even 7-7 record, including two wins over the Hurricanes. In its regular season finale, BC defeated NC State 58-52.
The Eagles are led by Carolyn Swords who is averaging 15.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Mickel Picco and Stefanie Murphy score 16.0 and 10.9 points per game respectively.
Boston College is averaging 70.5 points and 41.0 rebounds per game as a team. It is shooting 45.0 percent (788-1751) from the floor, 33.9 percent (136-401) from beyond the arc and 69.2 (333-481) from the free throw line. The Eagles also register 7.5 steals and 3.6 blocked shots per outing, while holding their opponents to 65.3 points per game and a shooting percentage of 39.0 (681-1747 ).
The Series
Dating back to their first meeting in 1992, the Hurricanes hold a 17-14 all-time advantage over the Eagles. However, Boston College has won the last five games in the series, including two during the regular season.
In the first meeting, four Miami players scored in double-figures, led by Riquna Williams’ 13 points. Latoya Drake, Diane Barnes and Shenise Johnson each scored 10 points apiece. BC’s Mickel Picco scored a team-high 14 points and Stefanie Murphy’s 12 points and nine rebounds kept the `Canes at bay, as the home team won at the Conte Forum 62-54.
The second game between the two teams, played at the BankUnited Center, came down to the post-play of Boston College. Carolyn Swords (25 points, 11 rebounds) and Murphy (15 points,11 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles in their 71-64 victory. Johnson led Miami with 18 points and seven rebounds, she also had her hand in on a game-high five steals.
