Miami Edged by Butler in UM Thanksgiving Tourney Final
Nov. 24, 2007
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – – The University of Miami women’s basketball team (2-3) could not hold on to a halftime lead, falling to the Butler Bulldogs (4-1) 62-59 in the UM Thanksgiving Tournament Final at the BankUnited Center.
Butler’s Lade Akande was too much for the UM defense in the second half, where she scored 12 of her 19 points, including a go-ahead jumper with 5:19 remaining, putting her team up for good at 56-54. For her efforts Akande was named the tournament MVP. Two others scored in double figures for the visitors; in all-tournament team member Candace Jones and Susan Lester with 14 and 12 points respectively.
The game was played close throughout with the largest lead belonging to the Hurricanes, five points midway through the first half. Each team ended the game with 32 rebounds apiece, the first time that Miami hasn’t led a team in rebounding this season.
Once again, UM was led by senior Maurita Reid who had 14 points and seven rebounds. Lamese James, who added 12 points, was named to the all-tournament team along with Reid.
Senior Albrey Grimsley played well down the stretch and even though she was much smaller, she was the only effective defender on the impressive Akande. Along with her tough defense Grimsley added nine points and seven assists, with no turnovers.
For most of the game the Hurricanes played a tough full court press that helped produce 14 takeaways, nine in the first half. In the opening half Reid led all scorers with nine points, including a three pointer with only 22 seconds left to put the Canes up 28-24 going into the break.
Miami will travel north to take on the Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers this Wednesday, Nov. 28 before returning to the BankUnited Center for four consecutive home games, beginning with Central Florida at noon on Dec. 2.
