Feb. 7, 2010

MIAMI, Fla. - Just down the road from the other big game being played today, the University of Miami used five players in double figures to defeat Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 85-60.

Playing only a few hours before the kickoff of the Super Bowl and in the same city, SIUE women's basketball fell to 6-19 for the season while the Hurricanes improved to 16-7.

"I thought we played hard and battled today," said SIUE Coach Amanda Levens.

Michaela Herrod turned in another strong performance offensively. The Cougar freshman scored a game-high 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field. Levens said Herrod was getting the job done inside and outside the paint for the Cougars.

SIUE connected on seven three-pointers, including two each from Melia Duncan, Madison Meade and Courtney Kenner.

The Cougars were down by 11 points at halftime and held 20-16 edge in rebounding. In the second half, however, Miami denied the Cougars the rebounding edge.

Miami outrebounded SIUE 23-6 over the final 20 minutes of the game.

"It made a huge difference in the second half," said Levens.

Miami's Shenise Johnson led the Hurricanes with 16 points. She was followed by 13 from Morgan Stroman, 12 from Riquna Williams and 11 each from Diane Barnes and Sylvia Bullock.

Levens said Miami, members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), used its size advantage to score in the paint and then began hitting perimeter shots once the lead was more solid. Miami shot 31 of 55 for the game (56.4 percent).

The Cougars forced 23 turnovers and grabbed 13 steals. It was the fifth straight game that SIUE has grabbed 10 or more steals.

This is a good game for the Cougars to play, Levens noted. It's the type of game which shows the Cougars what it will take down the road.

"They are a good team and will have a chance to represent their conference in the postseason whether it's the NCAA Tournament or the WNIT," said Levens.

-siue cougars-