Women's Hoops Shuts Down FIU 76-61
Dec. 4, 1999
Coral Gables, FL – The University of Miami women’s basketball team (3-2) surged pass Florida International (2-1) in the second half en route to a 76-61 victory at the Knight Sports Complex on the UM campus.
The Hurricanes, who led FIU 33-30 at halftime, outscored the Golden Panthers 43-31 in the second half to hand FIU its first loss of the season and second straight defeat to Miami in the past two meetings. Last season, UM earned a 67-65 win over FIU in its season-opener at Golden Panther Arena. The 15-point margin of victory was the largest by UM since defeating FIU, 71-49, at the Knight Sports Complex during the 1995-96 season.
The Hurricanes had four starters score in double-figures led by sophomore guard Sheila James‘ 19 points. James, who scored 17 points in UM’s second half surge, also totaled three assists and five rebounds in 28 minutes of action. Senior captain Gina Graziani tallied 15 points in the victory, followed by freshmen Meghan Saake (13) and Alicia Hartlaub (12). Hartlaub led UM in rebounding with nine boards. Junior forward Camilla Osth added seven points and seven rebounds to round out the starters.
FIU was led in scoring by Laura Camps’ 14 points, followed by Viktoria Nagy (13). Cheryl Moody had a game-high 11 rebounds for the Golden Panthers.
FIU raced out to a 9-2 lead three minutes into the game, before UM responded with a 14-0 run over the next six minutes. Saake and Hartlaub each added six points in the UM run. FIU came back to take the lead, 17-16, at 8:21 with an 8-0 run. The Golden Panthers proceeded to take control of the remaining minutes of the first half until UM’s Graziani scored four points in the final minute. Junior guard Dona Nando capped off the first half with a three-pointer from half court as time expired to give UM the 33-30 lead.
The Hurricanes did not trail in the second half and grabbed their first double-digit lead, 55-45, at 8:52 following a James three-pointer from the left corner. FIU would play its way back into the game, 59-54, behind a Nagy free throw at 4:52.
Over the final four minutes Miami was sent to the free throw line 17 times, making 13. The UM lead opened up to 17 points following a Nando jumper with nine seconds to go, before Nagy chipped in a 17-foot shot as time expired.
