@CanesWBB Begins Thanksgiving Classic vs. UWM

MilwaukeeatMiami

The Game
Miami, receiving votes in both the AP Poll and USA TODAY Coaches Poll, will begin the Miami Thanksgiving Classic Friday against Milwaukee. The game between the Hurricanes and Panthers is set for 1 p.m. at the BankUnited Center. Tickets are $5, with youth 12-and-under admitted free of charge.

The Miami Thanksgiving Classic
Featuring three teams, including the Hurricanes, the Miami Thanksgiving Classic will have one game each day at 1 p.m. from Friday through Sunday. Saturday’s contest pits Milwaukee against La Salle and then Sunday Miami will take on the Explorers in the finale.

The Series
The Hurricanes have won each of the previous two meetings against Milwaukee, most recently topping the Panthers 73-70 on the road in overtime on Nov. 28, 2007.

The Team
Eight Hurricanes are back from a team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2014-15. That group includes a trio of starters who are now the team captains: junior guard Adrienne Motley, a Preseason All-ACC selection, junior guard Jessica Thomas and redshirt senior guard Michelle Woods.

One of the eight returnees is redshirt junior forward Keyona Hayes, who missed last season due to an ankle injury after leading the team in rebounding in 2013-14. The Hurricanes also have a quartet of sophomores in forward/center Erykah Davenport, guard Nigia Greene (redshirt sophomore), forward Keyanna Harris and forward Khaila Prather.

Additionally, Miami has four new players in the fold this season in guard Laura Cornelius, forward/center Emese Hof, forward/center Zada Williams and guard/forward Shaneese Bailey, who will sit out the season as a transfer from Florida Atlantic.

The Coach
Meier, in her eleventh season in Coral Gables, Fla., has led Miami to great heights during her tenure. Since 2009-10, the Wheaton, Ill. native has directed the program to its greatest six-year stretch ever, making the postseason in all six years, with five 20-plus win seasons and four NCAA Tournament appearances.

Meier has guided Miami to 53 victories in ACC play over the past five seasons, the second-most of any team in the conference. The 2010-11 AP National Coach of the Year  is in her 15th season as a head coach, spending the first four at Charlotte, and owns a career record of 264-179, including 188-134 at Miami.

The Opponent
The Panthers have played just two games so far in 2015-16, posting a home victory over UMKC and falling on the road at Florida Atlantic. Milwaukee is coming off a season in which it went 10-20 and posted a 5-11 mark in Horizon League play. The team was picked ninth in the conference preseason poll this year.

Last Time Out
The Hurricanes moved to 5-0 for the fifth time in program history and 3-0 on the road for the seventh time ever with a 77-70 victory at Charlotte Monday. In Meier’s return to the first school she was the head coach at, Miami stormed back from a 12-point third period deficit to earn the win. Motley scored 18 points in the second half and Hof posted a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds. The Hurricanes closed the game on a 17-3 run and had a 26-7 edge in bench points.

Up Next
Miami continues play in the Miami Thanksgiving Classic Sunday at 1 p.m. when it hosts La Salle at 1 p.m. Additionally, Milwaukee and La Salle will face each other Saturday at 1 p.m. at the BankUnited Center in game two of the event.

Promotions
As is the case for all women’s basketball games at the BankUnited Center this season, youth 12-and-under will receive free admission. Team posters and schedule cards will be available at the marketing table by the main entrance. Additionally, at halftime, Miami’s football game at Pittsburgh will be shown on the video board at the BUC.