The Miami women’s basketball team posted its fourth straight victory by downing the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 69-60 on Thursday night at McMish Pavilion.
“Georgia Tech is a great defensive team. In the second quarter, I thought we looked like an Elite Eight team. We’ve looked good all year,” head coach Katie Meyer said. He will win So this is a big win for us.
Miami’s passing game was the key to the win as the Hurricanes (11-6, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)) recorded 18 rebounds. It was the 10th time UM had 15 or more assists in a game this season. The Hurricanes are now 8-2 in such games.
The game didn’t start the way the ‘Canes would have liked as they missed the first four field goals. They quickly recovered and made seven of 10 shots to close out the first quarter, taking a 16-13 lead.
Graduate student Destiny Harden, in her first game since missing two contests due to injury, scored nine points in the second quarter, including six from 3-point range.
The Hurricanes were balanced offensively, with nine players scoring in the period. Additionally, a 57.1% shooting mark from the field in the quarter led to a 40-23 Miami advantage at the end of the first half.
In the first half, Miami forced nine Georgia Tech turnovers and scored 17 points.
Both teams shot over 45% from the field in the third quarter. Georgia Tech (9-8, 0-6 ACC) ended the frame on an 8-3 scoring run to cut Miami short. lead 15 going into the fourth.
The last quarter saw Georgia Tech go on Early in the quarter, the Yellow Jackets went on a 10-2 scoring run to cut the deficit to just seven.
Although Georgia Tech outscored Miami 20-14 in the fourth quarter, Miami managed to win the toughest battle in the conference. Senior guard Haley Cavinder hit seven crucial free throws to lead the Hurricanes to a 69-60 victory.
Destiny Harden picked up where she left off before her injury and scored 13 points, her 11th double-digit scoring of the season.
“Destiny showed strength and came through for her team,” Meyer said. “Her first half was incredible, so I was. Really proud from her. She hit some Destiny shots, what we call shots. The team has been meeting her and is very happy to have her back.
Seniors Haley and Hannah Cavinder followed Harden with 14 and 11 points. FReshman Lazaria Spearman scored eight points on an efficient 4-of-5 shooting clip from the field in her hometown of Atlanta.
Miami returns to the Watsco Center to host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Sunday at 2 p.m. The game will be televised on ACC Network Extra.
