Women's Basketball

October 11, 1998

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Universityof Miami senior forward Kym Hopehas been named the preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year by The SportingNews. In addition, Hope was named the league’s “Best Rebounder”.TheSporting News also named junior point guard Gina Graziani to thepreseason All-BIG EAST Second Team and “Best Playmaker”.

The Hurricanes were pickedto finish fourth in the BIG EASTbehind Connecticut, Rutgers and Notre Dame, all of which were selectedto The Sporting News Preseason Top 25.

Hope, a 1997-98 BIG EASTFirst Team selection, is theconference’s top returning scorer (17.6 ppg) and rebounder (10.9 rpg).Graziani has led the league in assists the past two seasons and finishedfifth nationally in 1997-98.

Miami is coming off itsfirst NCAA Tournament appearance in fiveyears and returns four starters in 1998-99.