No. 16 `Canes Top NC State for 20th Straight Home Win

By Rob Dunning

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – A team known for its high scoring offense, the Hurricanes had been anything but in their last two outings, averaging 65.5 points while shooting a combined 32 percent in a win over a Boston College and a loss at Florida State.

Thursday night, everything fell back into place for the 16th-ranked University of Miami women’s team as the `Canes re-found their scoring touch in an 84-77 win over visiting NC State at the BankUnited Center.

Following Miami’s loss at FSU on Monday – the Hurricanes’ first loss since mid-November – head coach Katie Meier was quick to point out her team let a poor shooting night affect their overall game. Fortunately, that wasn’t going to be a problem against the Wolfpack as Miami shot 45.2 percent from the field and dropped in a season-high for points against an ACC opponent.

The win improved Miami’s record to 19-2 overall and 5-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, keeping pace with second-place Georgia Tech as the Yellow Jackets improved to 6-1 Thursday night with a win at Virginia Tech.

Riquna Williams added her to ACC-high scoring average with a game-high 27 points for the `Canes, while Morgan Stroman and Shenise Johnson added 18 and 17 respectively in the seven-point win.

The victory improved Miami’s mark at home this year to 16-0, while also extending its overall winning streak at the BUC to 20 straight games – the second-longest streak of success in program history.

The game started slow for the `Canes, as the action went back and forth for the better part of the first half. It wasn’t until late in the initial period that Miami began to assert its dominance. Up just one with a little less than two minutes to play until the half, a three-pointer by Johnson, a fast-break bucket by Williams and then a lay-in in the waning moments by Stroman put the `Canes up 42-36 at the break.

Both teams shot better in the second half. Miami stretched its lead to as much as 15 with 10 minutes to play, and while the Wolfpack hung around and pulled a little closer, the game was never really in doubt.

As she has done so many times in her career, Johnson carried the team in the end, scoring 12 of her 19 after the break on 4-of-7 shooting in the second half.

In addition to the Hurricanes strong shooting night, the team found some more success inside, out-rebounding NC State 41-to-36 while scoring 10 more points in the paint than the Wolfpack.

Johnson (9), Stroman (7) and Wiliams (5) combined for nearly half of the team’s rebounding total.

To round out the offensive outing by the `Canes, Miami dished out 17 assists after distributing just four as a team Monday night at FSU. Stefanie Yderstrom directed the offensive game-high five.

The `Canes will look to extend their home winning streak this weekend when they play host to Georgia Tech on Sunday at the BankUnited Center. For tickets, call 1-800-GO-CANES or visit www.HurricaneSports.com.

Post-Game Notes

Tonight’s Starters
Coach Katie Meier started Shenise Johnson, Riquna Williams, Morgan Stroman, Stefanie Yderstrom, and Sylvia Bullock once again. The same group has started all 21 games this season.

With the win, the Hurricanes are now…

• 19-2 overall
• 5-1 ACC
• 16-0 at the BankUnited Center this season
• Winners of 20 straight home games
• Winners of 18 of their last 19 games
• 2-9 all-time versus NC State

Tonight’s Opponent
The Wolfpack trekked into Miami coming off a home loss to No. 3 Duke in which they led by as many as 20 points in the second half before falling 65-64.

Last season’s meeting between the Hurricanes and Wolfpack was played before a national television audience at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh with the hosts pulling out a dramatic 66-64 victory.

Lighting it up
Miami (80.9) and NC State (74.7) came into the game ranked third and fourth respectively in scoring offense among ACC teams. The teams both displayed why putting up a combined 161 points.

Running away with it
The `Canes were able to grab control of the game midway through the second half going a 21-10 run.

I’ll take that
Miami, the nation’s leader, swiped 16 steals on the night. Morgan Stroman led the way with six. The Hurricanes also lead the conference in turnover margin continuing that trend with a +7 mark

The `Canes were able to convert many of their steals into 16 total fastbreak points on the night.

Boarding
The home team was able to crash the glass to pick up 20 offensive boards to convert them to 21 second-chance points. This came against the best NC State rebounding team since the 1978-79 squad. This year’s team came in averaging 45.1 caroms per game with 17.1 offensive rebounds per game. Miami held their own allowing only nine Wolfpack offensive boards on the night.

Miami won the rebounding battle 41-36 overall.