@CanesWBB to Face Georgia Tech in Atlanta

No. 19/17 MiamiatGeorgia Tech 

The Game
The Hurricanes, ranked No. 19 in The Associated Press Poll and No. 17 the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, are set for the first of two consecutive ACC road games Thursday night at Georgia Tech. The Hurricanes and Yellow Jackets will meet at 7 p.m. at Hank McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta.

The Series
Georgia Tech holds a 13-12 edge in the all-time series against the Hurricanes, but Miami has won five of the past seven matchups. In the most recent meeting, on Feb. 15, 2015, Miami closed the game on a 15-0 run in the final 4:17 to make up a 10-point deficit and earn a 64-59 home victory.

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 four NCAA Tournament appearances. This season, Meier has already guided the Hurricanes to their sixth 20-win campaign in the past seven seasons.

Meier has guided Miami to 61 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 279-183, including 203-138 at Miami.

The Opponent
The Yellow Jackets enter the game at 14-10 (4-7 ACC) on the season and feature the top scorer in the ACC in guard/forward Aaliyah Whiteside. The senior is averaging 20.5 points per game on the season and she also leads the team in both rebounds (7.1) and assists (2.9) per outing. Senior forward Roddreka Rogers ranks second in scoring and rebounding at 10.3 and 7.0 a game, respectively. Georgia Tech was picked to finish No. 11 in the ACC preseason poll after posting a 19-15 (7-9) mark last season, en route to an appearance in the second round of the WNIT.

Last Time Out
Miami picked up the second win over Duke in program history Sunday afternoon at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Fla., downing the Blue Devils, 61-53. The Hurricanes limited Duke to 11 points in the first half, the fewest the Blue Devils have ever scored before the break. Miami held Duke without a field goal for 15:40, including 11:37 without a point, as the Blue Devils missed 24 shots in a row. Motley led all scorers with 21 points, her 20th-career 20-point outing, while Thomas added 13 points and Hayes chipped in with 11. Davenport pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds to help Miami become just the fifth team to outrebound Duke this season.

Up Next
The Hurricanes will play their second-straight road game Sunday at 1 p.m. when they take on third-ranked Notre Dame at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind.