Hurricanes Hold Off Montana
Dec. 20, 2004
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Junior Tamara James scored 21 points while senior Yalonda McCormick recorded seven steals to lead the University of Miami women’s basketball team past Montana, 55-49, Monday night at the Convocation Center.
James’ 21 points led all scorers followed by UM (5-5) teammates, freshman Amy Audibert and McCormick, who each turned in 10 points each. Audibert’s 10 points marked a career high for the Niagara Falls, Ontario native.
McCormick also had seven rebounds on the night, second only to freshman Albrey Grimsley, who led Miami with eight rebounds.
Montana’s (4-4) Hollie Tyler led the Lady Griz with 10 points while Jody McLeod had a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Lady Griz opened the game on a 10-3 run four minutes into the game before the Hurricanes scored six straight to cut the lead to one just over three minutes later.
The two schools would trade baskets over the next nine minutes until Audibert hit a lay up at the 3:26 mark to put UM up by two. Just over one minute later, McCormick grabbed one of her seven steals and went the length of the floor to give the Hurricanes a four-point lead at 23-21.
Montana responded with four unanswered points to go ahead 24-23 with just 47 second remaining. As the first half ticked away, Grimsley found Audibert under the basket for a lay up with 10 seconds left to give the Hurricanes the 25-24 lead heading into the locker room.
With the start of the second half, the Hurricanes opened the lead to seven at 33-26 just over three minutes into the half.
Montana would come as close as within three points of the lead at 35-32 before UM put together a 10-2 run to widen the lead to 11 with just over eight minutes left to play.
The Hurricanes wouldn’t let the Lady Griz to within six for the remainder of the game to take the 55-29 victory, their second straight and fourth at home this season.
Miami will break for the Christmas Holiday’s over the next week before returning to action Dec. 28, taking on Fairfield at the UM Holiday Classic.
