@CanesWBB Set to Host Wake Forest
Wake Forestat
No. 21/20 Miami
| THE GAME |
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| Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 • 7 p.m. ET |
| Coral Gables, Fla. • BankUnited Center |
| Game Notes: Miami • Wake Forest |
| THE BROADCAST | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Joe Zagacki & Kelly Schumacher |
Jake Hakanson & Vijay Senthilkumar |
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| Live Stats | ||||||||
| Social Media: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram | ||||||||
| THE POLLS | ||
|---|---|---|
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| NR | 21 | |
| NR | 20 | |
| TEAM STATS | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Record | 9-7 (0-3 ACC) |
15-2 (3-1 ACC) |
| Points | 61.2 | 76.0 |
| Points Allowed | 60.8 | 57.8 |
| INDIVIDUAL LEADERS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | |||||
|
Campbell | 13.3 | Quinn | 8.8 | ||
| Motley | 15.9 | Hof | 6.4 | |||
| ASSISTS | BLOCKS | |||||
|
Edwards | 3.9 | Quinn | 1.8 | ||
| Thomas | 3.6 | Hof | 1.1 | |||
| 3FG | STEALS | |||||
|
Stephenson | 1.8 | Campbell | 1.9 | ||
| Thomas | 1.8 | Thomas | 2.1 | |||
The Game
Miami, ranked No. 21 in The Associated Press Poll and No. 20 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, is set to face Wake Forest Thursday at 7 p.m. at the BankUnited Center. Tickets are $5, with youth 12-and-under admitted free of charge.
The Series
The all-time series between the Hurricanes and Demon Deacons is even at 8-8 and Miami has won five of the last seven meetings. In the most recent matchup, Wake Forest picked up a 60-59 home victory on Feb. 26, 2015.
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 Naismith Trophy Early Season Watch List 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 five new players in the fold this season in guard Laura Cornelius, forward/center Emese Hof, forward/center Zada Williams, guard/forward Shaneese Bailey and guard Neydja Petithomme. Bailey and Petithomme are sitting out this season as transfers from Florida Atlantic and Auburn, respectively.
The Coach
Katie Meier, in her 11th 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 56 victories in ACC play since the start of the 2010-11 season, 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 274-181, including 198-136 at Miami.
The Opponent
The Demon Deacons are 9-7 (0-3 ACC) on the season and have dropped four of their past five contests. Five Wake Forest players are averaging at least nine points per game, with sophomore guard Amber Campbell leading the way at 13.3 an outing. Freshman guard Ariel Stephenson is second at 11.7 points and junior forward Milan Quinn is third with 9.6 points to go along with her 8.8 rebounds per game, which ranks second in the ACC. The Demon Deacons were tabbed No. 14 in the ACC preseason polls after recording a 13-20 (2-14 ACC) mark in 2014-15.
Last Time Out
The Hurricanes jumped out to a 26-2 lead at Clemson Sunday en route to a dominant 83-49 victory at Jervey Gym. Motley posted 18 points to lead all scorers, while Cornelius added 17, the second-best mark of her career. The duo combined to shoot 9-of-14 (64.3 percent) from 3-point range and Miami went 12-of-23 (52.2 percent) beyond the arc overall. Thomas recorded 13 points and a career-high-tying seven assists and Davenport matched her season best with 12 points. Miami forced 26 turnovers and committed just 12 while posting 34 points off turnovers and conceding only seven.
Up Next
Miami heads to Chapel Hill, N.C., to take on North Carolina Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Carmichael Arena.
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, schedule cards and new rules infographics will be available at the marketing table by the main entrance.
There will be a chalk talk in the Hurricane 100 Room at 5:45 p.m. All season ticket holders are invited to attend the event, for which doors open at 5:30 p.m. Additionally, SalsaCraze will perform at halftime of the game.
