'Canes blow past Bulls for women's title

ANCHORAGE – Riquna Williams had 17 points and fellow Miami senior Shenise Johnson almost delivered a triple-double Thursday to lead the 7th-ranked Hurricanes to a 92-72 victory over South Florida in the title game of the women's Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout at Sullivan Arena.

Johnson, the reigning Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, had 11 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to help Miami capture its first Shootout title in three tries. The 'Canes (4-1) finished seventh in 1984 and fourth in 1987 when the tournament was an eight-team affair, then know as the Northern Lights Invitational.

The Bulls (4-2) were led by 21 points, six rebounds and six assists from guard Jasmine Wynne, plus 11 points and five assists from all-tourney selection Kaneisha Saunders.

Miami broke open a tight game after 10 minutes, closing the first half with a 24-12 surge to go up 44-32. The Hurricanes then turned up the pressure another notch, starting the second half with an 18-2 run to run away from their instate rivals.

Senior center Sylvia Bullock, an Anchorage native, finished with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks in her return home. Williams, who was named Carrs/Safeway Player of the Game, also had six assists and pair of steals, doing all of her damage in just 23 minutes.

It was the first-ever Shootout appearance for the Bulls of the Big East Conference.

2011 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout
Women's All-Tournament Team
Crystal Bradford, Central Michigan
Kaylie Robison, Alaska Anchorage
Kaneisha Saunders, South Florida
Hanna Johansson, Alaska Anchorage
Riquna Williams, Miami
Most Outstanding Player: Shenise Johnson, Miami

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