Bench Carries Miami to 59-56 Victory
Feb. 12, 2009
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The University of Miami women’s basketball team (13-11, 2-7) overcame an early 12 point deficit and defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies (11-14, 1-9), 59-56. In the victory, 10 different Hurricanes scored at the Cassell Coliseum.
Only one player scored in double-figures for the Hurricanes, freshman Shenise Johnson with 11. But nine other Miami players scored on the night to give the ‘Canes their second ACC victory of the season.
Sophomore Briyana Blair continues to make her minutes count, on this night, she scored eight crucial points and her two free throws with 5:27 to go in the game, gave Miami the lead for good.
Latoya Drake, Charmaine Clark, LaToya Cunningham and Damisha Moore each scored seven points on the night. Moore free throw gave the Hurricanes their first lead of the evening with 7:27 left in the contest.
Head coach Katie Meier called a timeout when her team was up by a point at 52-51, with 2:42 to play. The play called for Johnson to be a decoy in order to free Cunningham in the corner. The senior nailed the shot and gave the ‘Canes some breathing room with a four-point advantage.
After that, Miami pushed their lead to as much as six with 1:46 to go. However, the Hokies scored five straight to test the Hurricane nerve. With seven seconds remaining, Epiphany Woodson’s jumper rattled out and senior Lamese James fought for the rebound and scored the put back for her first points of the night.
A last second prayer from Virginia Tech’s Brittany Lewis was not answered, giving an ecstatic Hurricane bunch the victory.
Woodson, who missed Miami’s last game against Florida State, scored four points and dealt out five assists to zero turnovers.
The start of the game didn’t go as planned for the Hurricanes. Three straight Hokie baskets made it 6-0 before Meier called a timeout a minute and a half into the contest, to regroup her squad.
Virginia Tech’s lead grew to as much as 12 with 8:39 remaining. From that point, Miami closed the half on a 27-10 run, including nine points from Johnson in the last five minutes and 16 seconds of the period. The ‘Canes trailed only 31-27 heading into the locker room.
Tech’s Utahya Drye led her team with 12 points and five rebounds heading into the break.
The Hurricanes will host another former Big East rival in Boston College, Monday Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. For ticket information, please call 1-800-Go-Canes or visit hurricanesports.com.
