Miami and Gardner-Webb will face off in Sunday's first game, beginning shortly after noon, at John Paul Jones Arena, in what will essentially be unfamiliar territory for both schools. Miami is the No. 3 seed in the Dayton Region, and the Hurricanes are back in the Big Dance for the first time in seven seasons.
"One thing about our team is that we are very authentic," explained Miami coach Katie Meyer. "When we get to these first landmarks, we celebrate them. We are not going to come in here and act like we're cool and like we know what we're doing. We are an emotional team... the last time we were here, we were part of the Big East, but it's nice to be the Miami in the ACC."
Miami (27-4) hopes to represent the league well after it tied with Duke for the regular-season conference title, and the Canes are led by the explosive backcourt tandem of ACC player of the year Shenise Johnson and Riquna Williams. The duo combines to score more than 40 points a game.
The 14th-seeded Runnin' Bulldogs (23-10) are playing in the Division I tournament for the first time in school history after upsetting Liberty in the Big South championship game for an automatic bid. Gardner-Webb is paced by twin sisters, Domonique and Monique Hudson, who each scored 20 points or more in five games this year.
Monique admitted that she won't have to look far for inspiration when it comes to guarding the dangerous duo of Williams and Johnson.
"Me and my sister have watched them play a couple times on tape, they are two really outstanding players," she said of the Miami guards. "I think my sister is pretty tough to go against, and I have played against her all my life. I'm going to give them the same defensive pressure I give my sister."
Coach Rick Reeves says that his bunch is eager to get out and run in a fast-paced tempo, as many Big South teams stick to slowing the pace down and packing in to play zone defense.
"We love to run," he said. "This could be an extremely exciting game for the fans. I think our players are finally thrilled to play a team that likes to run."
Johnson knows that despite the No. 14 seed, the Bulldogs cannot be looked past.
"At this point everyone is hungry, it's one and done," she said. "It doesn't matter how you've played previously, you have to come in and win."
Both contests in Charlottesville on Sunday will be televised nationally on ESPN2. The first-round winners will meet Tuesday with a Sweet 16 berth at stake.
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