Hayes? Career Night Helps @CanesWBB Top Wake

Wake Forest6071No. 21/20 Miami

TEAM STATS
FGs	22-57	26-64
3FGs	2-14	4-20
Free Throws	14-23	15-18
Rebounds	40	39
Blocks	4	4
Steals	12	13
Assists	11	16
Turnovers	24	18

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
	POINTS			REBOUNDS
	Quinn	15		Quinn	10
	Hayes	22		Hayes	6
	ASSISTS			BLOCKS
	Campbell / Brunori	3		Quinn	3
	Thomas / Cornelius	5		Hof / Hayes	2
	3FG			STEALS
	Penna	1-3		Campbell / Quinn	3
	Thomas	2-7		Woods / Hayes	3

INFOGRAPHIC
Click here to enlarge

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Led by a career-high-tying 22 points by forward Keyona Hayes, the University of Miami women’s basketball team topped Wake Forest 71-60 Thursday night at the BankUnited Center.

The redshirt junior had 11 points in each half and finished the game 8-of-10 from the field and 6-of-7 at the free throw line. She also pulled down a team-high six rebounds and matched her career best with a co-game-high three steals.

“She was awesome tonight and was steady-eddie,” Miami head coach Katie Meier said of Hayes. “We all know what Key is capable of. I think this was a physical game and we needed Key to come through. She’s just so reliable, so reliable. That was a great performance.”

After Wake scored four of the first six points, No. 21/20 Miami (16-2, 4-1 ACC) responded with a 10-0 run to go ahead 12-4 with 2:58 left in the first period, drawing a timeout by Wake Forest (9-8, 0-4 ACC). The Hurricanes would go on to take a 16-10 lead into the second frame.

Miami connected on a trio of 3-pointers during the second quarter. Junior guard Jessica Thomas hit the first two and her initial one gave the Hurricanes their largest lead of the opening half at 26-15 with 6:06 to go before the break.

Redshirt senior guard Michelle Woods capped the first half scoring with the team’s third and final 3-pointer of the session, putting Miami ahead 37-29 at halftime. Hayes had a game-high 11 points at the break, her most points in a half this season.

The Hurricanes, who made their final three shots before the intermission, forced Wake Forest into 15 turnovers in the first 20 minutes, which led to 18 of Miami’s 37 points. In the first quarter alone, Miami had a 10-0 edge in points off turnovers.

The Demon Deacons opened the second half on an 8-0 run to tie the score at 37, but Thomas quickly answered with a basket to give Miami the lead back. From there, Hayes and junior guard Adrienne Motley took over for the rest of the third quarter, splitting Miami’s final 14 points of the frame. The Hurricanes closed the period on a 16-7 run and led 53-44 entering the final session.

Wake Forest was unable to pull within any more than seven points in the fourth period and Miami held strong for the 11-point victory, the team’s 13th win by double figures this season.

“We need to be thrilled with any ACC win we get from here on out,” Meier said, “just thrilled. We need to take them.”

Along with Hayes’ game-high 22 points, Motley posted 18 points, her third-straight outing with at least that many. Thomas chipped in 12 points and a co-game-high five assists in a career-high-tying 37 minutes of action.

Junior forward Milan Quinn led Wake Forest with15 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds to record a double-double. Sophomore guard Amber Campbell added 13 points for the Demon Deacons.

The Hurricanes forced 24 turnovers in the victory, marking the third-consecutive game they forced at least 20.

Miami returns to the court at North Carolina this weekend when the Hurricanes play their third-straight Sunday road game. The contest is set for 12:30 p.m. at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C.

To keep up-to-date with the latest news on the University of Miami women’s basketball program, follow @CanesWBB.

MIAMI HURRICANES POSTGAME NOTES

·         For the seventh-consecutive game, Miami’s starting five was Hayes, Emese Hof, Motley, Thomas and Michelle Woods.

·         The all-time series between the Hurricanes and Demon Deacons is now 9-8 in favor of Miami. Over the last eight meetings, Miami is 6-2.

·         Meier is now 275-181 in her 15 seasons as a head coach, including 199-136 in her 11 years at Miami. She is one victory away from 200 in her career at Miami.

·         The Hurricanes have scored at least 70 points 15 times in 18 games. They did so on 12 occasions in all of 2014-15.

·         Miami has trailed for a total of 53 seconds in its last three games.

·         Motley passed Wendy Foote for No. 16 on the program’s all-time scoring list. She currently has 1,888 points.

·         Motley has recorded over a dozen points in 14 of 18 games this season, with 17-plus in 12 of them.

·         Motley matched her season best with five made free throws (previously recorded multiple times, most recently at Virginia, 1/3/16) and set a new season high with seven attempts (previous high six, recorded multiple times, most recently at Virginia, 1/3/16).

·         In addition, Motley topped 200 assists and 250 free throws attempted as a collegian

·         Hayes, who surpassed 650 points in her career in the victory, recorded double-digit points for the sixth time in 2015-16.

·         Hayes’ 22 points tied her career high (previously recorded multiple times, most recently at Virginia, 2/27/14). It is the fourth 20-point outing of her career and first since the 22-point outing against Virginia.

·         Additionally, Hayes’ 11 points in each half topped her previous season best for points in a half (10, vs. Wright State, 11/13/15).

·         In Miami’s last two home games, Hayes is shooting 15-of-17 (88.2 percent) from the field.

·         Hayes three steals equaled her career best (previously recorded multiple times, most recently vs. Coppin State, 12/4/15). Her eight field goals made set a season high (previous high seven, vs. Pittsburgh, 1/7/16).

·         Hayes also set new season bests with six free throws made and seven attempted. Her prior bests were three makes and five attempts, both vs. Virginia (1/3/16). Her 33 minutes played set a new season high (previous high 31, vs. Illinois, 12/2/15) and career high in ACC action (previous high 32, vs. Wake Forest, 2/23/14).

·         With five assists in the game, Laura Cornelius surpassed 50 assists in her first season at Miami. Additional, her total matched her career best (previously recorded multiple times, most recently vs. Pittsburgh, 1/7/16).

·         Thomas, who eclipsed 200 rebounds as a Hurricane, logged double figures in scoring for the 13th time in 18 games this season.

·         In addition, Thomas’ 37 minutes played matched her career best (previously recorded multiple times, most recently vs. Illinois, 12/2/15). It was also her most in ACC play (previous high 35, recorded multiple times, most recently at Virginia, 1/3/16). 

·         Woods’ three steals matched her season best (previously recorded multiple times, most recently vs. Milwaukee, 11/27/15).