@MiamiWBB Opens DoubleTree Classic with UCLA
Dec. 18, 2014 | 6:00 p.m.
Devlin Fieldhouse | New Orleans, La.
Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM
Live Stats will be available Here
Miami (7-2) vs. UCLA (3-4)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule | Stats | Game Notes | Tournament Central
The Game
Miami will play its only neutral site regular season game of 2014-15 against the UCLA Bruins Thursday, Dec. 18 at 6:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. CT). The game will be held in New Orleans at Tulane’s Devlin Fieldhouse as a part of the Tulane/DoubleTree Classic.
The Series
The Hurricanes and Bruins have never faced off before and this will be the start of the series between the two programs.
The Broadcasts
WVUM 90.5 FM will broadcast the game and it will also be streamed online at WVUM.org.
The Team
Head coach Katie Meier’s team features eight returnees, including three starters: junior forward Keyona Hayes, senior guard Suriya McGuire and sophomore guard Adrienne Motley.
A native of Newport News, Va., Motley has scored at least 16 points in seven of nine games this season. She is one of three players to start every game this season, along with redshirt senior forward Jassany Williams and sophomore guard Jessica Thomas. Forward Necole Sterling is a key part of Miami’s frontcourt off the bench is one of three seniors on the team.
Redshirt freshman guard Nigia Greene and redshirt junior guard Michelle Woods are back after missing the 2013-14 season due to injury and have combined to average 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game thus far.
Additionally, the Hurricanes have five new faces this year, featuring a mix of local, national and international talent. Miami’s newcomers are all freshmen and consist of forwards Erykah Davenport, Keyanna Harris, Khaila Prather, and Laura Quevedo, as well as guard Aisha Edwards. Quevedo has started seven straight games and is averaging 5.4 points and 5.4 rebounds on the season.
Miami is allowing just 52.1 points per game this season, good for the best mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hurricanes are also second in the ACC in steals per game, averaging 12.3.
The Coach
Katie Meier is in her tenth year at the helm in Coral Gables, Fla., and is looking to build upon the team’s many recent successes. The Hurricanes have made five consecutive postseason appearances, three in the NCAA Tournament and two in the WNIT, and have also had over 20 wins in four of the past five seasons. Meier holds a career record of 246-168, including a record of 170-123 at Miami. Meier is four wins away from 250 career victories.
Last Time Out
Miami wrapped up a seven-game homestand with a 6-1 record by beating Coppin State (1-8) by 16, 70-54, Saturday, Dec. 13 at the BankUnited Center. The victory was the fifth straight for the Hurricanes, who used a balanced scoring attack to defeat the Eagles. Five players scored eight-plus points for Miami and three others had at least five. Nigia Greene led the way with 11 points, while Adrienne Motley and Suriya McGuire both had 10. Motley and sophomore guard Jessica Thomas each had five assists in the victory.
Up Next
The Hurricanes will have a quick turnaround after playing UCLA, as Miami will take the court roughly 24 hours later to play Tulane, the host of the Tulane/DoubleTree Classic. The Hurricanes and Green Wave are set to tip off Friday, Dec. 19 at 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT) at Devlin Fieldhouse.
http://www.tulanegreenwave.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/tul-double-tree-14.html
