Miami Welcomes its Challenging 2011-12 Schedule
Sept. 13, 2011
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami head women’s basketball coach Katie Meier announced the Hurricanes’ 2011-12 schedule on Tuesday and the Canes are slated to play on television a record eight times. After a season in which UM advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and won its first Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship, the expectations have never been higher for Meier and her Canes. The level of competition also has never been higher. Miami will face a daunting schedule even before ACC play starts in January, taking on non-conference foes Tennessee, Michigan State, Rutgers, Ole Miss and Georgetown. “Obviously, we set out to create an ambitious schedule,” said Meier, the reigning ACC and Associated Press National Coach of the Year. “We want our names to be in the conversation regarding the elite women’s basketball programs.” The Canes will travel to Knoxville, Tenn. to face the Pat Summitt-led Volunteers on ESPN2 in the 2011 State Farm Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 15. The Hurricanes also head out on the road to face Michigan State on ESPN3 as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Dec. 1 and to take on Georgetown in Washington D.C. on Dec. 21. Consecutive home contests against Rutgers (Dec. 5) and Ole Miss (Dec. 10) highlight UM’s non-conference slate inside the BankUnited Center. “The ACC always brings great matchups and ranked opponents and to prepare for those games, we sought out some incredible non-conference challenges,” said Meier. “We finally have a veteran squad with tremendous ACC and postseason experience. This type of schedule is exactly why people choose to play at Miami – great matchups and nationally televised games.” |
2011-12 Women’s Basketball Schedule
All times Eastern. |
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In all, Miami will play 15 games against teams that advanced to the postseason a year ago, including Duke and Tennessee, who each played in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal round. “Our success last season created some buzz, but this year’s schedule presents some terrific opportunities and challenges,” added Meier. UM returns all of its players from a season ago, including reigning ACC Player of the Year and State Farm All-American Shenise Johnson, as well as First-Team All-ACC performer and the conference’s leading scorer Riquna Williams. In addition, Miami welcomes junior transfers Shawnice Wilson and Jessica Capers, along with freshmen newcomers Michelle Woods, Tyler Hobgood and Suriya McGuire. The Hurricanes will open their season against Texas-Pan American at home on Nov. 11. If Miami were to win, it would set a program record with its 25th consecutive home victory, breaking the mark set between 1990-91 and 1992-93 seasons. After their game at Tennessee, the Hurricanes will return home to face Prairie View on Nov. 17 before heading out on the longest road trip of the Meier Era. The Canes will be competing in their third Great Alaska Shootout Nov. 23-24 and will face host Alaska Anchorage on the first day and either Central Michigan or USF on Thanksgiving Day. UM will then return to the BankUnited Center for a home contest against Longwood before its trip to East Lansing, Mich. to face the Spartans in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Sandwiched between the Ole Miss and Georgetown games is a matchup with Louisiana Monroe at home. The Canes will be on break from Dec. 22-27 before holding their annual Women’s Basketball Holiday Tournament, Dec. 28-29. Miami will open with Holy Cross before facing either VCU or Morgan State on the second day. The new year will also bring a reformatted conference schedule. Traditionally the ACC women faced a 14-game slate. Starting this season, their schedule will mirror the men’s 16-game format. The Canes alternate between home and road contests over their first five ACC contests. Miami’s conference-opener will be on the road against North Carolina on Jan. 2. Last season, Miami upset the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill before falling in the rematch in the semifinal round of the ACC Tournament. The Canes return to Coral Gables to face NC State on ESPNU on Jan. 5. They then are at Georgia Tech (Jan. 9 – ESPN3) and home against Maryland (Jan. 12), before traveling to Tallahassee, Fla. to take on rival Florida State on Jan. 15. That contest will be aired on ESPNU. After a visit to Charlottesville, Va. to take on Virginia (Jan. 19), Miami will face four of its next five opponents in the BankUnited Center – Virginia Tech (Jan. 23), Wake Forest (Jan. 26), Clemson (Feb. 5) and UNC’s return game on Feb. 8. The Canes’ lone road game in that five-game stretch will be at Boston College on Jan. 29. Miami will then head to Maryland (Feb. 12 – ESPN2) and NC State (Feb. 16) to face both the Terrapins and Wolfpack for a second time. FSU and Boston College come to the BankUnited Center for Miami’s final two home games of the season on Feb. 19 and 26, respectively. Each game will be aired on the ACC’s Regional Sports Network. UM’s final road game of the regular season will be Feb. 24 when the Canes head to Cameron Indoor Stadium to face Duke – the team that Miami shared its regular season conference title with last year. The ACC Tournament will once again be held in Greensboro, N.C. inside the Greensboro Coliseum, March 3-6. Please call 1-800-Go-Canes for individual and season ticket information. |
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