MIAMI HURRICANES
T
he University of Miami women’s basketball team, coming off its first Atlantic Coast Conference championship in program history, enters the 2011-12 season ready for yet another successful campaign. The team, led by head coach Katie Meier, finished the season 28-5 overall and 12-2 in conference play, earning a share of the league title in the process. The Hurricanes, who were defeated by Oklahoma in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, return every player from a year ago and entered the season ranked No. 7 nationally in both the Associated Press and Coaches’ polls. The senior guard tandem of Shenise Johnson and Riquna Williams will once again be the focal point of the team’s production. Johnson, who this year became the first preseason All-American in school history, averaged 19.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in 2010-11 en route to ACC Player of the Year honors. She was named to the All-ACC First Team for the second consecutive season, as well as to the All-ACC Tournament and All-ACC Defensive teams. Her 19.6 scoring average trailed only her teammate Williams in conference scoring. Williams is another player who enters the 2011-12 season coming off a career year. As a First-Team All-ACC selection, Williams led the league and ranked 11th nationally with 21.7 points per game. The 5-6 guard, who finished her sophomore season as a second-team AllACC selection, lead the team in scoring, field goals made (251), three-pointers made (75) and free throws made (140). Along with Johnson, Williams was named to the Women’s Preseason Nominee List for the 2011 John R. Wooden Award, considered college basketball’s most prestigious individual honor. Though Meier’s team is lead by its two AllACC standouts, other instrumental contributors will also be returning for the Hurricanes. Junior forward Morgan Stroman, who was named Third-Team All-ACC, started all 33 games for the Hurricanes and finished third on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) last season. She led the ACC and finished fifth in the nation with 3.3 steals per
QUICK FACTS
Katie Meier Head Coach
Shenise Johnson Senior Guard/Forward
DID YOU KNOW? • Current Wasilla High coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax was an honorable mention AllAmerican for the ‘Canes in 1991-92 when she set the school record for assists in a season with 221. • The origin of Miami’s mascot, Sebastian the Ibis, dates back to 1926 when the school’s yearbook chose its name to be “The Ibis.” A marsh bird native to Florida, the ibis is known for its bravery as a hurricane approaches.
game, and trailed only Johnson on the team with 8.2 rebounds per game. Junior guard Stefanie Yderstrom of Östertälje, Sweden will be another important player. The 5-8 sharpshooter, who finished 10th in the ACC in three-point field goals made (53), also started every game for the Hurricanes in 2010-11. The Swedish national team member finished the season fourth on the team in points per game (8.0). Sophomores Krystal Saunders (4.4 ppg) and Selina Archer (3.0 ppg) figure to play important roles in their second seasons at Miami, while Meier will also rely on senior and former South Anchorage star Sylvia Bullock (4.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg) in her final season in Coral Gables. Newcomers to the team will also make an impact in 2011-12. Shawnice “Pepper” Wilson, a 6-6 center who played two seasons at Pitt before transferring to Miami, figures to make a big impact down low, while freshman guard Suriya
Location: Coral Gables, Fla. Enrollment: 14,078 Founded: 1925 Nickname: Hurricanes Colors: Orange, Green & White Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference Arena: BankUnited Center (7,200) Web Site: HurricaneSports.com Athletic Director: Shawn Eichorst Head Coach: Katie Meier Record at UM: 100-89, 6 years Overall Record: 176-134, 10 years Assistant Coaches: Darrick Gibbs, Carolyn Kieger, Vernette Skeete 2010-11 Record: 28-5 2010-11 Conf. Record: 12-2 (1st) 2011 Postseason: NCAA 2nd Round Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 5/0 Newcomers: 5 TOP RETURNEES
PPG
RPG
OTHER
Riquna Williams Shenise Johnson Sylvia Bullock
21.7 19.6 4.2
5.3 8.3 4.0
2.8 apg 3.8 apg 54% FG
McGuire is ranked the No. 7 overall player in the nation by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and the fifth-ranked point guard according to ESPN’s HoopGurlz.com.
HURRICANES ROSTER NO.
1 3 10 12 15 21 23 24 32 33 34 40 42 50 54
NAME
Riquna Williams Stefanie Yderstrom Michelle Woods Krystal Saunders Tyler Hobgood Stephanie Gardner Shanel Williams Jessica Capers Morgan Stroman Suriya McGuire Sylvia Bullock Shawnice Wilson Shenise Johnson Maria Brown Selina Archer
POS.
HT.
CL.
HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL/PREVIOUS TEAM)
G G G G F G G F F G F C G F C
5-6 5-8 5-8 5-8 6-1 5-7 5-8 6-2 6-1 5-11 6-2 6-6 5-11 6-1 6-4
Sr Jr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. So.
Pahokee, Fla. (Pahokee HS) Östertälje, Sweden (Igelstaviken) Naples, Fla. (Community HS) West Park, Fla. (South Broward HS) Oxford, N.C. (J.F. Webb HS) Glassboro, N.J. (Glassboro HS) Chesapeake, Va. (Indian River HS) Gastonia, N.C. (Forestview HS/Indian River State) Hopkins, S.C. (Lower Richland HS) Minneapolis, Minn. (Roosevelt HS) Anchorage, Alaska (South Anchorage HS) Pittsburgh, Pa. (Westinghouse HS/Pittsburgh) Henrietta, N.Y. (Rush-Henrietta HS) Monroe, La. (Ouchita Christian HS) Clermont, Fla. (East Ridge HS) Senior guard Riquna Williams
2011 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout
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