@MiamiWBB Crushes NC State in ACC Opener

December 20, 2012

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The Miami Hurricanes opened their Atlantic Coast Conferenceschedule in near-flawless fashion Thursday night, overpowering the visiting NCState Wolfpack 79-53 at the BankUnited Center.

Miami took early control with a 16-3 run out of the gates,extended its lead to 24 by halftime, and put the Wolfpack away for good with a14-0 run to start the second frame. Powered by a season-high 21 points fromStefanie Yderstrom, the hosts earned their 47^th home win in the last48 tries.

“Every game is important,” Yderstrom said. “In the ACC,anybody can beat anybody, and it’s going to be a tough game every game. Youhave to play hard every game.”

It took the Canes all of four minutes to eclipse theirfirst-half total from Sunday’s matchup with Rutgers, as a layup from MorganStroman gave Miami a 14-3 lead and prompted Wolfpack head coach Kellie Harperto call a timeout. The Hurricanes, who shot 26-58 (44.8 percent) from the fieldand 21-23 (91.3) from the free throw line, looked nothing like the team thatfell in New Jersey only four days prior.

“That is a very, very satisfying win for our team,” headcoach Katie Meier said. “We haven’t been happy for a couple of days. We hadsome grinding to do, and we had some stuff to prove.”

Leading 45-21 at halftime, the Hurricanes (8-2, 1-0 ACC)kept their foot on the gas. Powered by the early 14-0 surge, Miami’s leadballooned to a game-high 38 points less than four minutes into the second half.

“We’ve had NC State down the last couple of years, and thenthey come back,” Meier said. “They have so much fight, energy and spirit, andthen they hit the shots they were missing in the first half.”

This time around, the Wolfpack (7-5, 0-1) were unable tosurmount the early deficit. The Hurricanes’ defense held the visitors to 35.1percent shooting in the second half and 27.4 percent for the game, whileAll-ACC guard MarissaKastanek was held scoreless for the first time in 111 career games.

“Defensively, we love Kastanek. She’s a heck of a player.For her to go scoreless in this game is a big deal,” Meier said.

On the opposite end, Miami’s starting lineup totaled 62 ofthe team’s 79 points, while five Hurricanes recorded double-digit scoringperformances: Yderstrom, Stroman (14), Shawnice Wilson (10), sophomore MichelleWoods (15), and freshman Keyona Hayes (10). Miami outrebounded NC State 51-40.

“Our starters were on point tonight. Very, very efficient.The most efficient they’ve been offensively,” Meier added.

The Canes’ senior trio of Stroman, Yderstrom and Wilsoncombined for 46 points and 19 rebounds in the decisive victory. Twenty-eight of those pointsand 13 rebounds came in the tone-setting first half.

“I thought the seniors, the way they started thegame, there was so much confidence and so much certainty,” Meier said. “When weall know what we’re doing, we’re confident. When we’re confident, we reallybeat people.” 

– Tonight’s starterswere Suriya McGuire, Stefanie Yderstrom, Morgan Stroman, Michelle Woods,and Shawnice “Pepper” Wilson.

– Shawnice Wilson had aseason high of 14 rebounds on the night. She previously had 13 at Rutgers onDecember 16.

– Shawnice Wilson hashad a double-double in consecutive games and three in the past four contest.

– Stefanie Yderstrom hada season high of 21 points. Yderstrom previously scored 19 points against FAUon November 23.

– Macy Keen had a careerhigh of 3 blocks. Keen’s previous best was 2 against Alcorn State on December 3.Keen also recorded the first steal of her career.

– The Hurricanes scoreda season-high of 79 points. Their previous best was 77 against North Florida.

– Miami has won threeconsecutive matchups against NC State and is now 4-5 against the Wolfpack sincejoining the ACC in 2004.

– Five Hurricanes scoredin double digits, the first time that has happened this year.