Miami Comes Up Short on the Road Against NC State
Jan. 26, 2006
RALEIGH, N.C. – Junior guard Renee Taylor scored a career-high 29 points, hitting 5-of-6 three point attempts, but could not lead Miami (13-6, 3-3 ACC) past NC State (13-6, 3-3 ACC) Thursday night, falling 83-77 at Reynolds Coliseum.
In a game in which Miami and NC State would shoot 44.9 and 49.2 percent, respectively, the Wolfpack put together an 11-0 run early in the second half to go up 53-46.
NC State’s run ended when Taylor hit a pair of three-pointers on back-to-back possession to bring UM back within three at the 11:23 mark.
Following a three by NC State’s Monica Pope, Taylor brought UM back within three once again, converting a three-point play and minutes later, sophomore guard Albrey Grimsley cut the NC State lead to 61-60 on a layup with seven minutes remaining.
NC State outscored the Hurricanes 20-12 over the next six minutes, taking a nine point, 81-72, lead with just under a minute left to play.
The Hurricanes battled and cut the lead down to 82-77 on a Tamara James three-pointer with 28 seconds remaining, but could not answer again missing a pair of shots in the closing seconds to fall 83-77.
Miami, after trailing by as much eight, bounced back to hold a three-point, 40-37 lead at the half. Taylor helped the UM halftime advantage, scoring 15 on 6-of-8 shooting, including baskets on three-straight possessions.
Taylor hit 10-of-15 from the field while recording the second-highest UM single game three-point percentage on 83.3 percent from beyond the arc. Her three-point mark ties her with teammate Melissa Knight’s similar performance against Clemson this season.
James finished with 21 points on the night and a team-high seven rebounds.
Six NC State players, including all five starters, scored in double figures led by Billie McDowell’s 19.
The Hurricanes return to action Sunday afternoon, hosting ACC rival Virginia Tech in a televised game on ESPNU at 3 p.m.
