@CanesWBB Faces No. 10 UofL on Senior Night

No. 10/10 LouisvilleatNo. 17/17 Miami

The Game
Miami, ranked No. 17 in both The Associated Press Poll and the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, is set to conclude its home slate Thursday night. The Hurricanes take on No. 10/10 Louisville at 7 p.m. at the BankUnited Center in a game that will also serve as redshirt senior guard Michelle Woods’ senior night. Tickets are $5, with youth 12-and-under admitted free of charge.

The Series
The Hurricanes and Cardinals have split their two all-time meetings, both of which came in Louisville, Ky. Miami won 59-58 on Jan. 11, 1989, and Louisville earned a 68-55 victory last season on Jan. 25, 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 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 63 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 281-184, including 205-139 at Miami.

The Opponent
The Cardinals enter the game at 22-6 (13-1 ACC) and have won 19 of their past 20 contests. Sophomore forward Myisha Hines-Allen leads the team in scoring (16.8), rebounding (7.7), blocks (0.7) and field goal percentage (53.7%). Sophomore forward Mariya Moore (15.0), redshirt junior guard Briahanna Jackson (10.9) and freshman guard Asia Durr (10.9) all average double figures, too. Louisville was picked third in the ACC preseason poll after posting a 27-7 (12-4 ACC) mark last year en route to an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Last Time Out
The Hurricanes earned their first overtime victory in over four years when they topped Virginia Tech, 67-56, at the BUC Sunday. Hof led Miami with 15 points, a career high in ACC play, and set new season bests by any Hurricane with nine made free throws and 11 attempts. Motley added 12 points in the victory for Miami, which had a 21-9 edge in points off turnovers and a 12-4 advantage in second chance points.

Up Next
Miami wraps up the 2015-16 regular season when it takes on No. 12/12 Florida State Sunday in Tallahassee, Fla. The game is set for 3 p.m. at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center and will be televised on ESPN2.

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.

Woods will be honored on the BUC court prior to the game, as a part of her senior night festivities. The team’s head manager, Chiara Morello, will also be recognized.

The Division of Student Affairs is sponsoring a free barbecue dinner for students at halftime of the game in the Hurricane 100 Room.

Elementary and middle school students from Pinecrest Preparatory Academy will be performing the national anthem. They will also be singing at halftime and at two of the in-game media timeouts.

Additionally, there will be a chalk talk for season ticket holders in the Hurricane 100 Room prior to the game. The talk will begin at 5:45 p.m. and doors open at 5:30 p.m.