Miami Opens ACC Play with No. 11 Florida State
Jan. 9, 2010
CORAL GABLES – The University of Miami women’s basketball team will open its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule against the No. 13/11 Florida State Seminoles at the BankUnited Center on Sunday, Jan 10. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
Florida State (14-2) at Miami (12-2)
Sunday, January 10, 2010 / BankUnited Center / Coral Gables, Fla. / 1 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports Florida
Radio: WVUM FM 90.5
Web/Live Stats: www.hurricanesports.com
Internet Video: None
Internet Audio: wvum.org
The Hurricanes head into their conference opener with a two-game winning streak – with victories over UNF and Miami (OH). Miami’s 12-2 record is the best start to a season since the 2003-04 season, when it opened 16-1 in its final year in the BIG EAST. That season was also the last time that the ‘Canes advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Sophomore Riquna Williams has led the ACC in scoring since the first game of the season at 22.1 points per game. She also leads the conference with 46 three pointers so far on the year – she only hit 24 all of last season. Fellow sophomore Shenise Johnson was just named the ACC Co-Player of the week, joining Williams, who won the award after the first week of the season.
A Look at the Seminoles
Florida State defeated Virginia in a battle of ranked teams on Thursday in its ACC opener and comes to Coral Gables with a three-game winning streak. Its last loss was to the hands of the No. 1 UConn Huskies on Dec. 28.
The Seminoles are led by Jacinta Monroe who is averaging 13.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Alexa Deluzio and Courtney Ward average 9.9 and 9.8 points per game respectively. Ward also leads the team with 5.1 assists per game.
Florida State is averaging 74.3 points and 43.2 rebounds per game as a team. It is shooting 44.5 percent (418-940) from the floor, 38.5 percent (90-234) from beyond the arc and 68.0 percent (263-387) from the free throw line. The Seminoles also register 9.1 steals and 5.3 blocked shots per outing, while holding their opponents to 57.4 points per game and a shooting percentage of 34.3 (322-939).
The Series
Florida State owns a 28-7 advantage in the all-time series between these two programs and has won the last eight meetings – including two during the 2008-09 season. In the last contest on Feb 22, 2009, the Hurricanes fell by one, 59-58, to the then No. 11 Seminoles. LaToya Cunningham scored 20 points in the losing effort while FSU’s Jacinta Monroe had 16 points and nine rebounds.
