Hurricanes Can't Hold Off Auburn in 79-61 Loss
Dec. 29, 2006
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Three Miami players scored double figures, including senior guard Renee Taylor’s game-high 19, but it wasn’t enough to overcome an Auburn team that shot 60.4 percent from the floor as the Hurricanes (9-6) fell to the Tigers (13-3) Friday night 79-61 in the championship game of the UM Holiday Tournament.
Miami and Auburn went back-and-forth for the early part of the first half until the Tigers put together a 9-0 run capped off by a fast break lay-up by DeWanna Bonner, who garnered all-tournament MVP honors with a 12-point, 10-rebound outing, with 8:41 remaining in the half.
Auburn jumped out to as much as a 45-25 lead with under two minutes left before the half to eventually take a 47-28 lead at the break.
Opening the second half with an increased pressure, Miami cut the lead to 55-44 with 12:39 showing when sophomore guard LaToya Cunningham followed up a three-pointer with a steal which led to a basket by junior center Carla Williams.
Auburn answered with a quick 7-0 run and would maintain a comfortable lead through most of the remainder of the game.
Taylor and junior guard Albrey Grimsley, who scored 10 points against Auburn, were both named to the all-tournament team after averaging 22.0 and 12.5 points, respectively over the two-day event.
Junior guard Maurita Reid scored 14 points with a team-high eight rebounds in the loss.
Miami will open conference play Wednesday on the road at Duke in what will be a homecoming for head coach Katie Meier, who was a four-year letterwinner with the Blue Devils from 1986-90.
