@CanesWBB Enters NCAA Tournament Ranked 19th

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s basketball team earned a No. 5 seed in the 2016 NCAA Tournament and its national ranking to start play reflects that seed.

The Hurricanes are ranked No. 19 this week in both The Associated Press Poll and the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

Miami (24-8, 10-6 ACC) moved up one spot in the AP Poll, picking up an addition 14 points to rise from No. 20 to No. 19. The Hurricanes earned five top-15 votes, including one at the No. 14 spot.

Head coach Katie Meier’s team stayed steady in the Coaches Poll, but did receive four more points in the balloting this week.

The Hurricanes have been ranked in the top 25 of at least one major poll in 14 times this season, including 10 weeks in a row. They have been in the top 20 of at least one of the polls on 11 occasions.

Miami joins No. 2/3 Notre Dame, No. 8/8 Louisville, No. 14/15 Syracuse and No. 17/10 Florida State as ACC schools in the top 20 this week. All five are top-five seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

Fifth-seeded Miami will begin its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in six years Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET against 12th-seeded South Dakota State. The Hurricanes and Jackrabbits will face off on ESPN2 from Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif.

For more information on the University of Miami women’s basketball team, follow @CanesWBB.