The women’s basketball team may have blown their last chance to compete for the Big East regular season crown after losing to No. 3 Connecticut 83-65 on Sunday.

With the loss, the Hurricanes fall to 16-4 (5-4). The Huskies improve to 18-2 (8-1) with the win, and may be promoted to the No. 1 spot in the polls after beating Tennessee on Thursday night.

The Huskies were led by Diana Taurasi, who scored 21 points, with 15 of them coming in the first half. Ashley Battle added a career-high 18 points, Ann Strother dropped in 17, and Jessica Moore tallied 13.

The Hurricanes were led by Chanivia Broussard, who scored 20 points, and Tamara James, who tallied 19. Shaquana Wilkins added 13 points and eight rebounds for the ‘Canes.

The ‘Canes were out rebounded by a margin of 46-30, and the Huskies had 24 assists. The Huskies shot 75 percent from the free throw line.

The Lady ‘Canes will return to action on Tuesday at 7 pm as they take on St. John’s at the Convocation Center.

-Compiled by the sports information departments of the University of Miami and the University of Connecticut.

The women’s basketball team’s surprisingly successful season can be partially attributed to the emergence of point guard Yalonda McCormick.

McCormick, a junior, averages 13.3 points per game, over five assists per game, over four rebounds per game, and leads the team in steals. Last season, there was a debate about whether she or Hutashi Wilson would become the team’s point guard. McCormick won that battle and has never looked back since.

McCormick has improved rapidly and became one of the stars on the team towards the end of last season.

“I thought my success started last year at the tournament,” McCormick said. “I felt like I was a key player and I had to step up to do things I didn’t do last year in order for this team to be successful.”

McCormick is used to earning attention, though. While in high school, she averaged 21.8 points per game and over 10 steals and assists per game while leading her school to two consecutive district championships. Also, she averaged eight rebounds a game, which is an unusual amount for a guard.

She has proven to be this type of player at Miami, too. More importantly, she has become one of the vocal leaders on the Hurricanes. Her teammates respect her, and one of them, Chanivia Broussard, is her cousin.

“My strength on this team is leadership,” McCormick said. “When the girls get down on themselves, they lose confidence, so I try to keep things positive and keep everyone’s head in the game.”

The ‘Canes started 16-1 before dropping two games in a row. McCormick attributes that to being too relaxed and not maintaining a winning mentality.

“To get back to where we [were], we have to stay focused and work hard,” McCormick said. “Everyone in the Big East is good so you never know what can happen.”

Despite her accomplishments, McCormick is a very humble person. She acknowledges that she still has areas of her game that she needs to improve on and doesn’t let anything get in the way of her goals on the court.

“I need to improve on my decision making. Sometimes when the games are close, I’ve made bad turnovers or a poor decision,” McCormick said. “The main thing about me is that I stay focused and I’m humble. I try not to let things get to me or bother me, and it allows me to be strong as a player and a person.”

Anyone who goes to the Hurricanes’ practices can see that McCormick is not someone who needs recognition. As a matter of fact, she tries to avoid the cameras and the spotlight whenever possible.

“I’m not used to the attention I am getting. I am a little camera shy, but it doesn’t really bother me as much anymore,” McCormick said.

McCormick has been greatly influenced by her grandmother, who happens to be the person who gave her the nickname Bebe, a moniker that has stuck with her throughout her entire life.

“I grew up with [the nickname]; I don’t really know where it came from, but [my grandmother] started calling me it, so that’s my name,” McCormick said.

“My grandmother has been very important in my life. She taught me that no matter what happens, don’t give up, and don’t let anyone stop me from doing the things that I want to do.”

One of the things that she wants to do is win the Big East Championship and go deep into the NCAA Tournament.

“It all starts with us believing in ourselves,” McCormick said. “If we are confident and believe that we can win games and play the way that we are supposed to play, we can be great.”

Darren Grossman can be contacted at d.grossman@umiami.edu.

The women’s tennis team (3-0) sent the Crimson Tide back to Alabama tired and battered after defeating them 5-2 on Sunday at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.

The [‘Canes took care of two doubles matches and four out of six singles matches. Sophomore Melissa Applebaum and junior Megan Bradley fell in the first doubles spot 8-6. Applebaum’s deep shots, coupled with Bradley’s volleys, appeared to not be returnable at the beginning of the set, but ‘Bama fought back and took control of the momentum that was yo-yoing back and forth. Bradley’s last shot in the game that would break the tie at 6-6 ended up setting up a perfect volley opportunity that the Tide was able to capitalize on.

“It was us giving away easy points,” Bradley said. “They were definitely talented, but I don’t think we should have lost.”

At No. 2 doubles, seniors Sihem Bennacer and Sara Robbins came up big, winning 9-8 after a tiebreaker. The pair struggled in the first games of the set, but showed signs of revival after being down 7-2. They fought hard in the comeback and pulled ahead as a pivotal Robbins shot hit the net and then sailed over, and ‘Bama could not get to it in time. A few volleys later and Robbins was able to have the final say. Senior Mari Toro and freshman Audrey Banada also came up with an 8-4 victory.

“Our girls competed exceptionally well as a unit,” said Head Coach Paige Yaroshuk. “I’m proud of the presence and poise they had when they were down [in points]. That’s something we’d worked on in practice, and it’s nice to see them implement it in a match.”

At singles, Bradley shined through a hard-fought match, redeeming herself from the heartbreaking pro-set she had just played with Applebaum. Her deep shots were strong in the first set, but they began to sail long towards the end of the match. Her opponent, Robin Stephenson, looked consistent throughout the first set, winning 6-3. Bradley’s confidence took over from there, however, and stayed consistent in the last two sets, winning 7-6, 6-4. Her surge of energy at the end enabled her to close out a win, thanks to more accurate placement of her shots.

“I’m glad I pulled it out,” Bradley said. “I was definitely out there long enough.”

Yaroshuk shared in her joy, as did the rest of the crowd.

“Megan put it together at the right times and was able to come up with big shots,” she said.

Applebaum and Toro, second and third singles respectively, were not able to hold their own against Alabama. Applebaum fell 2-6, 6-1, 6-1, while Toro was defeated 6-3, 6-4. In the fourth through sixth spots, Miami came through once again. Staci Stevens won 7-5, 6-2, Banada held on for a 6-4, 6-1 win, and Bennacer won the final match 7-5, 6-1.

Bradley feels that the team is more cohesive and that she is more ready to play this season.

“Last year wasn’t so good, but this year I’m a lot healthier and in a lot better shape,” she said. “We’re building and keeping a bond. It’s nice to have people to hang around with off the court, too.”

Yaroshuk isn’t looking too far ahead yet, but she has faith that the team will continue to be successful.

“If there’s one thing that this team is, it’s hard workers. [The doubles matches] showed that they really wanted it,” she said.

As for the future, the team’s goals are simple yet challenging.

“[My goals are to] keep this team healthy and full of energy,” Yaroshuk said. “And to be knocking at the doors of Top 10 schools.”

The ‘Canes will face South Alabama on Friday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m. in the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.

Melissa Teich can be contacted at m.teich1@umiami.edu.

With the entire match on the line for the No.35 Hurricanes, John “Shauny” Hoyes II was able to outlast Federico Barton in a tough three-set contest that allowed the ‘Canes to upset the No. 34 University of South Florida 4-3.

Hoyes, who played No.2 singles, lost the first set but was able to come back and win 4-6, 6-0, 7-5. In the final set with the two teams tied at three matches apiece, Hoyes was down 5-3 but with the crowd’s support he managed to tie the set. In a long match point, Barton toppled over with a leg cramp ending the match.

“I just started to figure out his patterns,” Hoyes said. “His backhand slice kept floating so I kept hitting to his backhand and then I would come in and put the ball away.”

In another three-set match freshman Josh Cohen defeated Uli Kiendl in No.1 singles competition 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Both players hit hard and consistent groundstrokes throughout the match. Cohen made a few difficult saves by digging deep and even hitting a winner off of Kiendl’s overhead.

Cohen credited the win to his ability to stay calm and to play all-around solid tennis. He said Kiendl’s weakness was a lack mental toughness and getting aggravated.

“I’m happy Josh got through this match. Uli is a very good player,” Head Coach Bryan Getz said.

No.3 singles Eric Hechtman defeated Renato Silveira 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.

No.4 singles Tim Krebs lost to Andres Maroldt 6-7 (5-7), 6-1. Krebs and Maroldt are both from Germany, and Krebs said that it is more relaxing to play another German because they conceal their emotions well.

“He didn’t miss any balls; he played smarter,” Krebs said. “I couldn’t hit one backhand.”

No.5 singles Colin Purcell lost to Juan Barragan 6-4, 6-1. Purcell was down 0-5 in the first set but he managed to win a couple of games.

No.6 singles Jeremiah Fuller was defeated by Matias Sigal in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.

The ‘Canes were able to win all three doubles matches. No. 1 doubles Purcell and Krebs defeated Kiendl and Silveira of USF 8-4

“It was the best doubles the team has played,” Krebs said. “Everybody played well.”

Hoyes and Fuller beat Sigal and Maroldt in second doubles 8-5. Cohen and Hechtman beat Barragan and Barton 8-3, ending the doubles competition with a solid performance from the ‘Canes.

The drop shots for both teams were ineffective because they either did not make it over the net or they set up a winner for the opponent. The Hurricanes lost several points by assuming that a ball was going out when in fact the ball would land in bounds.

“When we play them [USF] it’s always a battle; it’s always tight and we have to take advantage and not sit back,” Getz said. “They need to react to you, do not react to them. We need to take the initiative and don’t hope that they make errors and miss.”

Whitney Brown can be contacted at a.brown5@umiami.edu.

The University of Miami baseball team started off its 2004 campaign in a big way on Saturday night at Mark Light Stadium. In front of 2,016 fans, this year’s squad pummeled the Alumni Team by a score of 14-0.

Not only did the Hurricanes make it look easy, but they also did it against some of the best names in Hurricane baseball history. Names from the past four years alone were enough to make ‘Canes fans realize that football is not the only sport this school has dominated over the past four years.

“This is great fun, playing this game every year,” Head Coach Jim Morris said. “There are so many great players here and we have a few major leaguers, too. It’s great to play these guys, and it’s even more fun when we win.”

Names like Charleton Jimerson, Marcus Nettles, Tom Farmer, Kris Clute, Brian Walker, and Javy Rodriguez rang through the scratchy PA system at Mark Light Stadium, bringing back great memories of days gone by. All in all, 33 alumni returned to the Light for this year’s game.

Former Hurricane and current Florida Marlin Michael Neu started the game on the mound for the Alumni. He was greeted by a stacked 2004 Hurricane lineup that is returning all of its starting position players from a year ago. He was also bid adieu by the same lineup as the ‘Canes exploded for seven runs on four hits in that opening inning. That was more than enough for Miami as it completed the shutout and started off its season on a positive note.

The ‘Canes will begin their regular season with high expectations. For the first time in his career, Morris has all of his starting position players returning. Miami begins the season ranked anywhere from first (co-leader with defending champion Rice University) to fifth in the major polls.

The mood may have been jovial on Saturday night, but Feb. 13 will be a completely different story. UM will get down to business as it opens the regular season against rival Florida in the first game of a three-game series. The schedule will not get any easier after that as the ‘Canes will take on Tennessee the following weekend.

The starting lineup for Miami will be as follows: Senior and team leader Jim Burt will start at first base. Adam Ricks and Ryan Braun are back to take on the second base and shortstop positions, respectively. Braun will be looking to follow up on his stellar season of a year ago that helped to send Miami back to the College World Series.

Gaby Sanchez returns at third base with Erick San Pedro calling the shots from behind the plate.

In the outfield, the Hurricanes’ starting three look to be Richard Giannotti, Brian Barton, and Joey Hooft. Barton, who had three hits, including two triples, against the Alumni, will be filling in for the injured Danny Figueroa, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. Danny’s twin brother Paco should also see some time in center field in his absence. Hooft is coming off a phenomenal off-season and will look to make a statement in the ‘Canes lineup early on.

As far as pitching is concerned, the Hurricanes have plenty of that as well. Starters J.D. Cockroft, Brandon Camardese, Vince Bongiovanni, and 2002 ace Dan Touchet look to be the front-runners for spots in this year’s starting rotation. Touchet returns after sitting out last season to recover from elbow surgery. George Huguet and Shawn Valdes-Fauli should continue to be the leaders out of the bullpen this season.

The ‘Canes will be retiring the number of former player and current major leaguer Pat Burrell before the game against the Gators on Friday night. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Ryan Ellis can be contacted at r.ellis@umiami.edu.