Canes Open NCAA Tournament with Idaho State on Saturday
March 12, 2012
Tournament Central Presented By Buffalo Wild Wings
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – For the second consecutive season, the University of Miami women’s basketball team will be a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Canes are heading to Spokane, Wash. in the Kingston Regional and will face No. 14 seed Idaho State on Saturday.
Under seventh year head coach Katie Meier, the Hurricanes (25-5) again enjoyed a successful season, featuring three All-ACC performers and earning a No. 2 seed in the ACC Tournament.
Shenise Johnson and Riquna Williams earned first team honors for the second straight year (the third consecutive accolade for Johnson) and junior Stefanie Yderstrom was recognized as a member of the third team.
The Canes also own the second-longest home win streak in the nation as they have won 40 consecutive games inside the BankUnited Center. UM ascended to its highest ranking in school history when it reached No. 5 in February. This season also marked the first time in program history that the Canes defeated a Top 5 team, knocking off then No. 5 Maryland in January.
Miami owns a 3-7 all-time record in the NCAA Tournament, including a 1-1 record last season, where it defeated Gardner-Webb in the first round, before falling to Oklahoma in the round of 32.
The Canes found out their tournament fate along with over 150 of their most loyal followers at the Newman Alumni Center on the University of Miami campus and the ball room erupted with cheers as Miami’s draw was announced.
The meeting between UM and Idaho State will be the first between the two programs. The Bengals are 24-7 on the season and earned their trip to the NCAA’s after winning the Big Sky Tournament with a 49-46 victory over Northern Colorado in the championship game.
The other two teams in Spokane will be the host, No. 11 seed Gonzaga and No. 6 seed Rutgers. Miami and the Scarlet Knights met previously this season, with the Canes pulling out a 92-81 double-overtime victory in December.
For ticket information regarding the first and second rounds, call 1-800 GO CANES or click here.
