@CanesWBB Heads North to Take on BC

No. 16/20 MiamiatBoston College 

THE POLLS
	16	NR
	20	NR

TEAM STATS
Record	18-4 (6-3 ACC)	14-5 (2-4 ACC)
Points	73.0	59.9
Points Allowed	58.0	55.1

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
	POINTS			REBOUNDS
	Hughes	14.0		Hughes	5.7
	Motley	16.4		Hayes	6.1
	ASSISTS			BLOCKS
	Mosetti	4.4		Fasoula	1.0
	Thomas	3.5		Hof	1.0
	3FG			STEALS
	Hughes	3.1		Hughes	1.5
	Thomas	1.8		Thomas	1.5

The Game
The Hurricanes, ranked No. 16 in The Associated Press Poll and No. 20 the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, are set to trek north to face Boston College Thursday night. Tipoff at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass. is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Series
Miami holds a 24-17 advantage in the all-time series against the Eagles after winning seven of the last eight meetings. The Hurricanes’ 24 wins against Boston College are their most against any team in the ACC.

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 and Dawn Staley Award Mid-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 59 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 277-183, including 201-138 at Miami.

The Opponent
The Eagles enter the game at 13-8 (1-7 ACC) on the season after jumping out to a 12-1 mark in nonconference play to open their 2015-16 campaign. Junior guard Kelly Hughes ranks fifth in the ACC in 3-point percentage at 42.8 percent and leads the team in both scoring and rebounding at 14.0 points and 5.7 boards an outing. Freshman center Mariella Fasoula ranks second on Boston College in both categories, averaging 13.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

Last Time Out
Miami fell at home for just the second time this season, dropping a 57-51 decision against Syracuse Monday night at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Fla. Despite the defeat, the Hurricanes limited the Orange to just 20-of-70 shooting (28.6 percent) from the floor, including a 4-of-27 clip (14.8 percent) from 3-point range. Motley co-led all scorers with 16 points, her seventh-straight outing with greater than 15 points.

Up Next
The Hurricanes return home to face Duke Sunday at 1 p.m. at the BankUnited Center.