@CanesWBB Holds 2015-16 Season Banquet
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s basketball team hosted its 2015-16 banquet Thursday evening at the Newman Alumni Center.
Players, coaches, support staff and fans were all in attendance to celebrate the Hurricanes’ superb 24-9 (10-6 ACC) season, which ended with the team’s seventh straight postseason berth.
Miami, under the direction of head coach Katie Meier, reached the ACC Tournament semifinals, made the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past six years and tallied 20-plus wins for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
Seven awards and three additional recognitions were handed out during the course of the evening. The three recognitions went to Miami’s trio of captains: junior guard Jessica Thomas, junior guard Adrienne Motley and redshirt senior guard Michelle Woods.
Thomas was honored for her ACC All-Tournament Second Team accolade and Motley was acknowledged for her second consecutive First Team All-ACC honor. Woods, the lone Hurricane to ever play in four NCAA Tournaments, received the Senior Class Award and a commemorative video celebrating her career was played.
The team’s Academic Awards went to a pair of freshmen, as guard Laura Cornelius and forward/center Emese Hof, both natives of the Netherlands, were both saluted for their impressive work in the classroom.
Hof also shared the Windex Award for the team rebounding title, splitting the honor with redshirt junior forward Keyona Hayes. Both players led the Hurricanes with 5.5 boards per game in 2015-16.
Thomas pulled in a trio of accolades, including garnering the Strongest Player Award for the second year in a row. Thomas also was the Assists Leader for the second consecutive season after pacing the team with 3.7 assists per game. In addition, the Gainesville, Fla., native was recognized with Miami’s Most Intense Player trophy.
Sophomore forward/center Erykah Davenport was tabbed as the Hurricanes’ Most Improved Player this year. Davenport improved her numbers from 2014-15 in nearly every major statistical category and went from starting zero games to starting 21.
For the third season in a row, Motley was chosen the team’s Most Valuable Player. A WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, Motley was one of just three players to rank top-10 in the ACC in scoring, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage.
For 2016-17, Miami is set to return all but one letter winner from 2015-16, and will add transfers Shaneese Bailey and Neydja Petithomme, plus high school signee Sarah Mortensen.
To keep up with the University of Miami women’s basketball team during the offseason, follow @CanesWBB.
AWARD RECIPIENTS
Academic Award: Laura Cornelius and Emese Hof
Strongest Player Award: Jessica Thomas
Assists Leader: Jessica Thomas
Windex Award: Keyona Hayes and Emese Hof
Most Intense Player: Jessica Thomas
Most Improved Player: Erykah Davenport
Most Valuable Player: Adrienne Motley
