@CanesWBB Ready to Host Duke at the BUC
Duke
at
No. 16/20 Miami
| THE GAME |
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| Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 • 1 p.m. ET |
| Coral Gables, Fla. • BankUnited Center |
| Game Notes: Miami • Duke |
| THE BROADCAST | ||||||
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Jenn Hildreth |
Teddy Monogue Vijay Senthilkumar Listen online |
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| Live Stats | ||||||
| Social Media: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram | ||||||
| THE POLLS | ||
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| RV | 16 | |
| RV | 20 | |
| TEAM STATS | ||
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| Record | 17-7 (6-4 ACC) |
19-4 (7-3 ACC) |
| Points | 70.7 | 72.7 |
| Points Allowed | 57.3 | 58.1 |
| INDIVIDUAL LEADERS | ||||||
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| POINTS | REBOUNDS | |||||
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Stevens | 19.1 | Stevens | 9.4 | ||
| Motley | 16.3 | Hayes | 5.9 | |||
| ASSISTS | BLOCKS | |||||
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Salvadores | 3.4 | Stevens | 2.2 | ||
| Thomas | 3.5 | Hof | 1.0 | |||
| 3FG | STEALS | |||||
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Greenwell | 2.5 | Greenwell | 1.6 | ||
| Thomas | 1.7 | Thomas | 1.7 | |||
The Game
Miami, ranked No. 16 in The Associated Press Poll and No. 20 the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, will host Duke Sunday afternoon. The contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the BankUnited Center. Tickets are $5, with youth 12-and-under admitted free of charge.
The Series
Duke has a 12-1 lead in the all-time series against Miami. Most recently, the Blue Devils won 68-53 at home on Jan. 18, 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 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 60 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 278-183, including 202-138 at Miami.
A two-time graduate of Duke University, Meier is one of the greatest players in program history. She was inducted into the Duke Hall of Honor in 2002 and named the Blue Devils’ inaugural ACC Legend in 2006.
The Opponent
The Blue Devils are 17-7 (6-4) on the season and are led by the play of sophomore forward/guard Azurá Stevens, who leads the ACC in rebounds (9.4) and blocked shots (2.2) per game, as well as double-doubles (12). Stevens also ranks second in the conference in scoring at 19.1 points per game. Redshirt sophomore Rebecca Greenwell is second on the Blue Devils in scoring, averaging 15.0 points an outing.
Last Time Out
The Hurricanes moved to 7-1 on the road this season with a 67-62 victory at Boston College Thursday night at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Thomas set a career high with eight made free throws, needing just nine attempts to reach that mark. Miami as a whole went 18-of-22 (81.8 percent) at the stripe. Thomas’ 14 points led all Hurricanes, while Motley posted 13, Hayes added 11 and Davenport chipped in with eight to go along with a game-high and season-high-tying nine rebounds.
Up Next
Miami begins its lone two-game ACC road swing Thursday, Feb. 11 at Georgia Tech. The Hurricanes and Yellow Jackets will square off at 7 p.m. at Hank McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta.
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 performances by Beat Street throughout the game.
During the game, Miami’s 2016 ACC Women’s Basketball Legend honoree, Sylvia Wilson, will be recognized. A posthumous recipient of the accolade, Wilson will be represented by family and friends.
In addition, there will be a Super Bowl tailgate at halftime of the game in the Hurricane 100 Room. Tickets to the tailgate are just $5 and can be purchased at halftime or fans can buy a $10 game ticket that includes entrance.
There will also be a chalk talk for season ticket holds in the Hurricane 100 Room prior to the game. The talk will begin at 11:45 a.m. and doors open at 11:30 a.m.
