Canes Seeking Redemption
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Redemption. That is what is on the line for the Miami women’s basketball team on Sunday. The Canes are headed north to take on the Syracuse Orange, a team that bested Miami, 69-58, in the ACC opener earlier this season.
However, the Canes that head to Syracuse on Sunday are not the same Canes that faced the Orange just over a month ago.
“It’s been great to see how we’ve progressed from the last time we played Syracuse,” sophomore Sydnee Roby said. “We looked at our mistakes from that game and worked to correct them so we can be them this time.”
Miami is coming off a decisive 69-59 victory over North Carolina on Jan. 10, while the Orange have not played a game since Dec. 20 due to COVID-19 protocols.
“We’re not on our high-horse but coming off a win definitely gives us a little bit of confidence,” Roby said.
The Canes started off slow against the Tar Heels, scoring just nine points in the first quarter, but regrouped and put together back-to-back 20-point quarters to solidify the win. Senior Kelsey Marshall was a critical part of the victory, pouring in a team-best 19 points in the contest, in addition to reaching the 1,000-point mark in her career.
“We really hit the bottom after the Wake Forest game so this was a great bounce back and Kelsey led it,” head coach Katie Meier said. “Our percentages for the game, from the field and the 3-point line were so much better than the last game we played.”
Miami looks to carry that momentum into Sunday’s contest in the Carrier Dome and a large factor in the Canes’ performance will be the play of the bench.
“I’m really confident in my bench,” Meier said. “Jamir Huston and Karla [Erjavec] really came through and Sydnee has been playing great.”
Throughout the 2020-21 season, the Canes’ schedule has remained fluid due to the COVID-19 pandemic and this week was no different. Miami was originally scheduled to play Florida State on Jan. 14, but the game was moved as the Seminoles remain in COVID protocols.
With the extra week, the Canes focused on playing Miami basketball and preparing for the Orange.
“We definitely have to finish on the glass on Sunday,” Roby said. “We gave them a lot of second-chance points last time, so we need to box out and rebound and finish our layups. We have to be tougher.”
Miami’s game at Syracuse tips off at 12 p.m. and will air on regional sports networks. Dean Linke and Kelley Deyo have the call and fans can also listen to the game on WVUM 90.5.
