Miami Welcomes UNF to Close Out 2009

Dec. 30, 2009

CORAL GABLES – The University of Miami women’s basketball team will play its final game of 2009 when it hosts the UNF Ospreys on Thursday, Dec. 31 at 2 p.m. at the BankUnited Center.

UNF (3-7) at Miami (10-2)

Thursday, December 31, 2009 / BankUnited Center / Coral Gables, Fla.  / 2 p.m.

TV: None

Radio: WVUM 90.5

Web/Live Stats: www.hurricanesports.com

Internet Video: None

Internet Audio: www.wvum.org

Miami fell to the No. 17/22 Texas Longhorns, 76-65 in the final of the Miami Wyndham Holiday Tournament just two days ago. However, the Hurricanes are still of to their best start since the 2005-06 season – when they advanced to the WNIT.

Sophomore Riquna Williams has been the Atlantic Coast Conference’s leading scorer since the first game of the season and currently averages 23.3 points per contest. Fellow sophomore Shenise Johnson is the ACC’s third leading scorer at 18.2 points per outing and senior Diane Barnes has a team leading 9.6 rebounds per game – ranking second in the ACC.     

A Look at the Ospreys

UNF has won two straight games heading into Thursday’s contest – 59-55 over South Carolina State and most recently 56-42 over Savannah State on Dec. 18.

The Ospreys are led by Brittany Kirkland who is averaging 14.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Juliemay Syquio average 8.7 and 8.4 points per game respectively. Arlande Cherizol leads the team with 7.5 rebounds per game.

UNF is averaging 54.0 points and 38.4 rebounds per game as a team. It is shooting 36.1 percent (198-549) from the floor, 32.6 percent (59-181) from beyond the arc and 62.5 (85-136) from the free throw line. The Ospreys also register 7.9 steals and 1.7 blocked shots per outing, while holding their opponents to 62.0 points per game and a shooting percentage of 36.9 (225-609).

The Series

Thursday afternoon’s meeting will be the first for these two Sunshine State programs.