Miami basketball opens ACC Women’s tournament vs Syracuse
After an electric regular season, the Miami basketball women’s team opens play in the ACC Tournament on Friday as the fourth seed against fifth-seeded Syracuse.
The Miami basketball women had a double-bye to Friday’s quarterfinals. Fifth-seeded Syracuse won their opening game in the ACC Tournament 67-57 over 12th seed Virginia Tech after receiving a first-round bye.
Miami defeated Syracuse 84-71 at the Carrier Dome in January. It was one of the six Hurricanes wins against ranked opponents this season.
This will be the first postseason meeting for the Miami basketball women’s program and Syracuse since the Hurricanes knocked the Orange out of the 2003 Women’s Big East Tournament 77-64. Miami and Syracuse are meeting for the first time in the ACC Tournament. The Hurricanes lead the all-time series with Syracuse 20-9.
Miami Senior Emese Hof who was named to the All-ACC first team and the conference’s most improved player this season scored 21 points, had five rebounds and went 11-11 from the foul line in Miami’s victory over the Orange in January. Hof was one of four Miami players in double figures against Syracuse.
Hurricanes guard Laura Cornelius nearly had a triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, forward Beatrice Mompremier had one of her ACC leading 23 double-doubles with 12 points and 10 rebounds and guard Mykea Gray had 17 against Syracuse in January.
Kiara Lewis had 16 for Syracuse. Miami coach Katie Meier has had a Bill Belichick type season in strategy against the opponent. The Hurricanes have done an outstanding job shutting down the opposing team’s best player.
Syracuse’s Tiana Mangakahia shot just 4-12 from the floor in the loss to Miami to finish with 12 points and eight assists in the loss. Mangakahia scored 44 points in Syracuse’s penultimate regular season game in a 94-88 victory at Florida State.
The Australian native is averaging 16.5 points per game this season. Mangakahia was named first-team All-ACC with Hof and Mompremier.
"GAME 32 | MARCH 8, 2019 • 11 A.M. ET • GREENSBORO, N.C.18/16 [5] Syracuse Orange (23-7, 11-5 ACC)Head Coach: Quentin Hillsman (St. Mary’s [Md], 1993)Record at SU: 286-143 (13th season), Career Record: 286-143 (13th season)16/15 [4] Miami Hurricanes (24-7, 12-4 ACC)Head Coach: Katie Meier (Duke, 1989 [B.A.], 1990 [M.A.])Record at UM: 276-170 (14th season), Career Record: 352-215 (18th season)SERIES HISTORYThe Hurricanes are 20-9 all-time against the Orange, good for their sixth-most wins against any foe in programhistory. In this year’s regular-season meeting between the two, Miami recorded an 84-71 road triumph on Jan. 23.BROADCAST INFORMATIONRSN • Play-by-Play: Jenn Hildreth • Color: LaChina Robinson | FOX Sports Florida |Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM • Josh White | WVUM.org Sirius 137/XM 194/SiriusXM appCourtesy HurricaneSports.Com"
@CanesWBB will play their quarterfinal game of the #ACCWBBTournament on Friday against @SyracuseWBB at 11AM in Greensboro. #CusevsMia pic.twitter.com/bGHDoK0zbC
— Canes Warning (@CanesWarningFS) March 8, 2019
The winner of the Miami-Syracuse game will play the winner of top-seeded Notre Dame and eighth seed North Carolina on Saturday at noon on ESPN. The Fighting Irish will be heavily favored in their quarterfinal that is scheduled to start at 2pm ET.
Next. Miami women's basketball producing postseason awards. dark
The Hurricanes defeated Notre Dame 72-65 in Coral Gables last month. At the time the victory over the fourth-ranked Fighting Irish was the highest ranked team Miami had ever defeated. Ten days later the Hurricanes 79-73 victory over number two Louisville quickly broke that record.