Hurricanes Set to Host Miami Wyndham Holiday Tournament
Dec. 27, 2009
CORAL GABLES – The University of Miami women’s basketball team will play host to the Wyndham Miami Holiday Tournament Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 28-29 at the BankUnited Center. Joining the Hurricanes this season in the tournament will be Quinnipiac (4-5), Central Michigan (3-7) and No. 17/22 Texas (7-3).
Central Michigan (3-7) vs. No. 17/22 Texas (7-3)/Quinnipiac (4-5) at Miami (9-1)
Monday, December 28, 2009 / BankUnited Center / Coral Gables, Fla. / 3/5 p.m.
TV: None
Radio: WVUM FM 90.5
Web/Live Stats: www.hurricanesports.com
Internet Video: None
Internet Audio: wvum.org
The opening round will begin Monday at 3 p.m. as Central Michigan will take on Texas. At 5 p.m. or 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first game, Miami will face Quinnipiac of the Northeast Conference. On Tuesday, the Hurricanes will be playing at 3 p.m. regardless if it is the consolation or championship game –due to the Miami football team playing in the Champs Sports Bowl against Wisconsin later in the evening.
The Hurricanes are 9-1 and are off to their best start since the 2003-04 season and they have been winning in impressive fashion. Sophomore Riquna Williams is currently the Atlantic Coast Conference’s leading scoring at 24.1 points per game and senior Diane Barnes is also leading the ACC with 10.0 rebounds per contest. In her last game, Williams recorded her first career double-double with a 24 point, 10 assist performance at Cornell.
Sophomore Shenise Johnson has taken over at the point for Miami this season and she is scoring 18.1 points per game – third in the ACC and also leads the team with 41 assists on the season. The Henrietta, N.Y. native also scored a career-high 27 points at Cornell in the ‘Canes 101-62 victory.
Miami has scored 100 or more points twice this season – in its last game at Cornell and in a 111-93 victory at Cal State Bakersfield in November. The last time UM scored over the century mark that many times in a year was during the 2005-06 season when Miami defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, 100-62 and North Carolina A&T, 104-65.
The Hurricanes have faced their first round opponent, Quinnipiac only once previously – an 87-56 win in November 2002 and has only met Texas twice, while never before facing Central Michigan. Texas and UM are tied in their all-time series at one win each, but haven’t faced one another since a Dec. 9, 2001 meeting at the Orange Bowl Fab Four Classic. Miami won that contest 57-55.
For ticket information to the Wyndham Miami Holiday Tournament please call the University of Miami Ticket Office at 1-800 GO-CANES or visit hurricanesports.com.
