Miami Wins Fifth Straight in Blowout of Southern

By: Rob Dunning

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – When Southern head coach Sandy Pugh called a timeout 29 seconds into her team’s game against the University of Miami women’s basketball team on Monday, it was an early indication of how the night would go for the visiting Jaguars. Miami won its fifth straight game– all by double figures – and improved to 6-0 at home as it overwhelmed Southern, 85-36, in non-conference action at the BankUnited Center.

Miami (6-1) jumped out to an early 14-4 advantage and stretched its lead to 24 at the half as junior guards Shenise Johnson and Riquna Williams combined to out-score the Jaguars, 25-to-14, in the first period.

“I think we started off the game with a lot of respect for [Southern] and took care of business,” head coach Katie Meier said. “I knew at shoot-around today that our team would just take care of business. The upperclassmen – the returners – were just phenomenal tonight.

“We are closing out halves this year very well and that makes a big difference in our record,”
Meier added. “Teams have been hanging in with us and then at the end of the first half – instead of the second half – we are just really going on big runs and stretching the game open.”

Those big runs late in the first half and early in the second led to a comfortable win yet again for the `Canes, who scored 47 points after the break and led by as much as 50 with Johnson, Williams and forward Morgan Stroman controlling the action.

Williams would go on to score 19 points, Johnson finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists while Stroman recorded her second double-double of the season with a game-high 20 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. For Stroman, it was her fifth straight game scoring at least 15 points and her second 20-plus scoring night in UM’s last three contests.

In addition to production from Williams, Johnson and Stroman, Stefanie Yderstrom finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists while Selina Archer scored eight points in 15 minutes of action off the bench.

The Hurricanes forced the Jaguars into 30 turnovers and converted them into 31 points, 14 of which came on the fast break.

Miami more than doubled Southern’s shooting percentage from the field (49.2-to-24.1).

The Hurricanes will continue their nine-game home stand with a game against Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. before playing host to No. 12 Georgetown on Tuesday, Dec. 7 in what will be the team’s toughest test of the year thus far.

POST-GAME NOTES

Tonight’s Starters
Starting for Miami tonight was Riquna Williams, Shenise Johnson, Stephanie Yderstrom, Sylvia Bullock, and Morgan Stroman. The Hurricanes have used the same starting lineup in all seven games this year.

Tonight’s Opponent
Southern University made the NCAA tournament last year as a 16-seed, winning their fourth SWAC championship, losing to eventual national champion UConn in the first round. This is Miami’s second opponent (Nebraska) that was in last year’s 64-team NCAA field.

First Things First
– Tonight’s game was the first ever meeting between the two schools. Miami is now 8-10 all-time against schools from Louisiana.

– Morgan Stroman’s three-pointer with 1:28 left in the first half was the first of her career.

Scoring Prowess
Miami was once again led on offense by 2009 All-ACC performers Riquna Williams and Shenise Johnson, who are first and second respectively in the ACC in scoring. Johnson had 16 points for her 44th straight game in double figures – the longest active streak in the ACC. Williams had 19 points and Morgan Stroman, who is ninth in the ACC in scoring, added 20 to lead all scorers. Stroman also had a career-high 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Miami is the only team in the ACC to have three players in the Top 10 in scoring.

Defensive Dominance
– Miami’s 14 points allowed in the first half was the fewest it has allowed in a half all year and the fewest allowed in any half since holding North Florida to 10 points in the first half on Dec. 31, 2009.

– The Hurricanes forced 17 turnovers in the first half on the way to 30 for the game. The `Canes have forced at least 20 turnovers in every game this year. Miami leads the ACC in steals per game, and is second in turnover margin, forcing over 25 turnovers per game. Southern almost had as many turnovers as points, scoring just 36.

– Even with the intense defensive pressure, Southern did not visit the free throw line until 19:41 in the second half.

Balanced Scoring
Nine of 10 players scored for the Hurricanes tonight while four of five starters reached double digits.

Faces in the Crowd
Among those in attendance at Monday night’s game were head baseball coach Jim Morris, head men’s basketball coach Frank Haith, football student-athletes Leonard Hankerson and Micanor Regis and All-Americans Brittany Viola (Diving) and Bianca Eichkorn (Women’s Tennis). Malcolm Grant of the men’s basketball team was also in attendance, providing twitter commentary throughout the game @MG3_.