Canes Defeat Netherlands National Team in Italy

By Ashleigh Young
HurricaneSports.com

ROME, ITALY – The University of Miami women’s basketball team defeated the Netherlands National Team 61-59 in the first game of three games in Italy. Saturday’s game featured two familiar faces on the Dutch squad in former Canes standouts Laura Cornelius and Emese Hof. 
 
 Junior guard Mykea Gray led Miami with 15 points, while junior guard Endia Banks and freshman forward Brianna Jackson both added eight points. 
 
Miami took a 37-29 lead into halftime after Gray and Jackson registered 17 points. Moulayna Johnson Sidi Baba, Yasmeen Chang and Sydnee Roby all saw their first minutes in a Canes uniform and combined for five points. Jackson had a big debut as she led the team with nine rebounds. 
 
 
The Dutch team came out of halftime and cut into Miami’s lead, trailing by one before Kelsey Marshall added a basket four minutes into the third quarter. Marshall registered six points and five rebounds. 
 
With less than a minute to play, Hof tied the game at 57 with an all-too-familiar layup. Gray’s clutch three pointer with 20 seconds left in the game gave Miami a three-point cushion but the Netherlands scored to pull within 60-59. 
 
Jamir Huston’s made free throw helped the Canes win their first game of their Italy tour. Huston finished with three points, three rebounds and a steal. 
 
 
Miami will travel to Florence next and face the Florence All-Stars on Monday at 7 p.m.