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Rong Niu’s pink sequined dress shimmered under the arena lights at a recent Miami<\/a> men’s basketball game.<\/p>\n The popular halftime performer known as \u201cRed Panda\u201d finished her signature seven-minute set, looked up at a crowd of fans chanting her name and flashed a smile before dismounting.<\/p>\n Cameras rose instantly. A Hurricanes band member shouted “I love you, Red Panda!” A security guard shook his head in disbelief as a nearby fan asked aloud, “How does she do that?\u201d Members of the Hurricanes’ dance team lined up for photos with her before she made her exit.<\/p>\n Niu has grown somewhat accustomed to the fanfare over decades performing at NBA<\/a>, WNBA<\/a> and college basketball games \u2014 her first halftime show was a Los Angeles Clippers game in 1993. Still, even after sports fans rallied around her following a frightening fall during a WNBA game last July, she can hardly put words to what the support means to her.<\/p>\n