Canes to Face Michigan State in Big Ten/ACC Challenge
May 19, 2011
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Big Ten Conference announced Thursday the pairings for the Fifth Annual Big Ten/ACC Women’s Basketball Challenge, which will feature Miami traveling to Michigan State on Thursday, Dec. 1.
The 2011 Challenge will again take on a two-day format this year, opening on Wednesday, Nov. 30. The Big Ten/ACC Women’s Basketball Challenge matches the 12 teams in each conference in head-to-head competition, traditionally on the first Wednesday and Thursday after Thanksgiving and following the Big Ten/ACC Men’s Basketball Challenge. The ACC has won each of the first four women’s basketball challenges.
“This is a great opportunity for our team,” said head coach Katie Meier. “The Big Ten/ACC Challenge is a competition between two of the nation’s best basketball conferences and to be able to play a quality opponent such as Michigan State on their home court will be invaluable to us.”
Miami and Michigan State will be meeting for just the fourth time, but for the first time since the 1990-91 season. The Spartans hold a 2-1 all-time series lead, with Miami’s 78-68 win coming on Dec. 30, 1984 in South Florida.
The Hurricanes are coming off their best season in nearly two decades in 2010-11. They finished the season 28-5 and were 12-2 in ACC play, claiming the first regular season conference title since joining the league in 2004. The Canes advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1993 and Katie Meier was named both the Associated Press National and ACC Coach of the Year.
Junior Shenise Johnson earned a spot on four All-America teams, including the prestigious WBCA/State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team. The Henrietta, N.Y. native was also named the ACC Player of the Year and made up half of the nation’s best backcourt with the ACC’s leading scorer Riquna Williams (21.7 ppg).
Miami returns all of its players from last season’s team, including junior Shawnice Wilson (6-6, center) and freshman Suriya McGuire (5-11, guard) who were able to practice but not play with the team due to NCAA regulations. The Canes also welcome a talented incoming trio for the 2011-12 season.
Michelle Woods of Naples, Fla., junior college transfer Jessica Capers of Gastonia, N.C. and Tyler Hobgood of Oxford, N.C. will be joining the Hurricanes in the fall.
Game times, as well as television and broadcast coverage, will be announced at a later date. For more information about the Big Ten/ACC Women’s Basketball Challenge, including a complete schedule, log on to theACC.com.
To purchase season tickets for the 2011-12 season click here or call 1-800-GO-CANES.
2011 CHALLENGE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, November 30
Boston College at Wisconsin
Nebraska at Georgia Tech
Michigan at Maryland
Florida State at Ohio State
North Carolina at Penn State
NC State at Northwestern
Virginia Tech at Iowa
Thursday, December 1
Illinois at Clemson
Purdue at Duke
Miami at Michigan State
Indiana at Virginia
Minnesota at Wake Forest
