WoMen's Basketball Holds First Practice
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Head coach Katie Meier and her women’s basketball team began practice Monday afternoon in preparation for another season of hoops in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
As is the case with most opening practices, a renewed sense of opportunity was in the air at the Fieldhouse facility. Luckily for Coach Meier, she has two veteran leaders in Stefanie Yderstrom and Morgan Stroman who know what it takes to be successful.
Stroman earned all-conference accolades as a sophomore, and was well on her way to more recognition last season it wasn’t for an untimely mid-season Achilles injury.
“People don’t really understand the kind of competitor that Stro is,” Meier said. “She dealt with a very serious injury and when it came time for our preseason conditioning test, she passed on her first try.
“I don’t think her body was ready for that test, but she mentally pushed through it. She, along with Stef, is the type of woman that is leading our program this season.”
After stroking an ACC-leading 68 three-pointers as a junior, Yderstrom enters her senior season looking to leave her own mark on the Hurricane program.
“I am focused on taking more responsibility for the team.” Yderstrom said. “I’m trying to make sure other people are doing what they are supposed to be, while also making sure I’m doing the right things.
“I like helping the younger players and they also like to learn. It feels good to be able to help them out when they come to me. I just want to make them better”
The Canes have had three straight 20-win campaigns, and despite another challenging schedule, a fourth is in reach. Miami will welcome Tennessee and Penn State to the BankUnited Center in non-conference bouts, and will embark on a newly-formatted 18-game ACC schedule for the first time this winter.
“We do have a difficult schedule,” Meier said. “But that’s why I am here in Miami. That’s why these women are at Miami. We all look forward to those challenges and those opportunities to play big-time college basketball.”
Fans won’t have to wait too much longer to see their team in action. The Hurricanes open with an exhibition against South Florida’s own Nova Southeastern on Nov. 5. UM officially puts its 40-game home win streak – the nation’s second longest – on the line Nov. 9 against the UNF Ospreys.
