Miami Defeats Coppin State 60-54
Dec. 28, 2006
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Senior Renee Taylor (Harlem, N.Y.) scored a game-high 25 points and junior Albrey Grimsley (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) added 15 to lead the University of Miami to a 60-54 win over Coppin State in the opening round of the Miami Holiday Tournament in Coral Gables, Fla.
Miami (9-5) advances to the tournament final against Auburn who knocked off James Madison, 79-76 in overtime. The championship game is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. Coppin State (6-5) and James Madison will meet in the tournament’s consolation game starting at 5 p.m.
The Hurricanes, who improve to 7-0 at home this season, took a 30-18 lead into halftime forcing 15 Coppin State turnovers and holding the Eagles to just 7-30 (.233) shooting from the field.
The Hurricanes led by as many as 13 in the second half, but Coppin State, who has advanced to the NCAA Tournament each of the last two seasons, used a 14-5 run to pull within two (53-51) with 4:59 to play.
But the Hurricanes answered with a lay-up by Carla Williams and then converted five-of-six free throw attempts down the stretch to hold on for the victory.
