Hurricanes Fall to Florida State, 65-56
Jan. 9, 2005
Tallahassee, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s basketball team’s inaugural game in the Atlantic Coast Conference was spoiled after being outscored 30-16 in the second half as the Hurricanes fell to in-state rival Florida State, 65-56, Sunday afternoon at the Donald L. Tucker Center.
After leading 40-35 at the half, the Hurricanes (8-6, 0-1 ACC) were held to just 19.2 percent shooting from the field in second half and scored just three points in the game’s final five minutes to fall to the Seminoles (14-2, 1-1 ACC), snapping UM’s five-game win streak.
Junior Tamara James led all scorers with 22 points, scoring 16 in the first half. Senior Yalonda McCormick added 15 points for UM, all of which came in the first half as she was held scoreless in the second.
Florida State had three players to score double figures led by Roneeka Hodges’ 17 followed by Alicia Gladden’s 16. Nikki Anthony turned in career day with a personal-best 15 points and nine rebounds.
The Hurricanes held FSU scoreless through the game’s first five minutes, but were only able to score five points and following their first basket of the game at the 14:37 mark, the Seminoles found the lead at 10-8 with 12 minutes remaining in the half.
Trailing by one point with 9:31 left in the half, James hit a pair of free throws to give UM a 18-17 lead and the Hurricanes would hold the Seminoles off for the remainder of the half, taking a 40-35 lead into the locker room following a three by McCormick as time expired.
UM’s second half struggles started early as the Hurricanes missed seven of their first eight shots of the second half to allow the Seminoles to cut the UM lead to one point at 45-44 with just over ten minutes left to play.
FSU stayed within four points of the Hurricane lead until Hodges tied the game a 51-51 on a pair of free throws at the 6:27 mark.
Hodges would give the Seminoles the lead on their next possession down and an Anthony free throw the next time down gave FSU a three-point, 54-51 lead with 5:24 remaining.
Senior Fallon Phanord hit two of her six points in the game on a pair of free throws to bring UM within one at 54-53 at the 5:08 mark, but FSU’s Holly Johnson answered with a three to kick off an 11-3 FSU run to close out the game and hand the Hurricanes the 65-56 loss.
The Hurricanes will return to Coral Gables Thursday, January 13 to host Wake Forest at 7 p.m. in UM’s home ACC opener.
