ACC Opener vs. Miami Set For Thursday Night at JPJA

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia hosts Miami Thursday night in the first Atlantic Coast Conference match-up of the season for both teams. Tip-off at John Paul Jones Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m., and live statistics will be available at VirginiaSports.com.

Additionally, the game will be broadcast over the airwaves on WINA 1070 AM in the Charlottesville area with Jay James, Myron Ripley and Larry Johnson calling the action. That broadcast is available on the Internet with a subscription to V Pass.

Virginia (10-5) defeated in-state, non-conference foe Richmond, 75-62, to earn its third-consecutive win on Jan. 3. Junior forward Chelsea Shine (Wayne, Pa.) extended her streak of double-digit scoring games to seven, netting 10 points in addition to grabbing seven boards vs. the Spiders.

Shine leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 11.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Classmate Ariana Moorer (Woodbridge, Va.) ranks second on the team by averaging 10.8 points per game.

The Cavaliers are out-rebounding opponents, 623-511 (+7.5 margin) this season and are 9-1 when out-rebounding an opponent.

Defense will be a priority for the ‘Hoos vs. Miami, as Hurricane guards Riquna Williams (19.5 ppg) and Shenise Johnson (18.3 ppg) are ranked first and second in the ACC, respectively, in scoring. As a team, Miami ranks third in the conference and ninth in the nation in scoring by averaging 84.4 points per game (UVa enters the game averaging 68.8 points per game).

The Hurricanes (14-1) have won 13-consecutive contests after a 99-85 setback at Nebraska on Nov. 17. Miami head coach Katie Meier is a 1990 graduate of Duke University and has compiled a 162-130 record in her five seasons as the Hurricanes’ head coach.

During head coach Debbie Ryan’s tenure, Virginia is 21-12 in all-time ACC openers. In conference openers played at home, the ‘Hoos are 10-3 all-time. Virginia and Miami have never met in an ACC opener for UVa.

Virginia leads the all-time series with Miami, 7-1 (including a 4-1 mark in Charlottesville), and has earned six-consecutive victories. The lone UM win in the series was on Feb. 10, 2005 – 66-60 at University Hall.

ACC action continues for Virginia with a two-game road swing – Jan. 9 at Florida State and Jan. 13 at Georgia Tech. The Cavaliers’ next home game at JPJA is Sunday, Jan. 16 vs. Pennsylvania at 2 p.m.