Roberts Leads Hurricanes Past Southern, 61-57
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes women’s basketball team continued its unbeaten start to the season Friday evening, capturing a 61-57 victory over Southern University at the Watsco Center.
In a back-and-forth affair, the Hurricanes (3-0) needed a pivotal fourth quarter to come away with the win. Miami improved to 3-0 for the sixth straight season under head coach Katie Meier.
Jasmyne Roberts led the Hurricanes with 17, while Shayeann Day-Wilson added 13.
Soniyah Reed finished with 12 and Sirviv Legions had 11 for the Jaguars (0-4), who were playing their fourth straight Power-5 opponent on the road to open the season.
The result didn’t come easy for Meier’s Hurricanes, who trailed by four, 45-41, heading into the final frame.
But Southern’s lead would be quickly erased. A 3-pointer from Shayeann Day-Wilson cut the deficit to one, 47-46, and a forced turnover on the subsequent possession and layup from Ja’Leah Williams put Miami back on top with 8:39 to go.
“We switched defenses in fourth quarter, which was probably a little late,” Meier said. “We should have done that sooner.”
Roberts’ 3-pointer with 6:35 left gave Miami some breathing room at 54-50.
A fouled put-back from Aleighyah Fontenot with 1:37 remaining once again gave Miami a scare, with the Jaguars trailing by just one, 58-57.
But the Hurricanes held on, as buckets from Kyla Oldacre and a key offensive rebound and free throw from Jaida Patrick sealed the win.
“I thought we had uncomfortable moments for sure…there were some real growth from the team, in this game,” Meier said. “I knew it would be a tough game. We only had eight players playing tonight, and we just had to play tough.”
Friday’s outcome was hanging in the balance for the entirety of the evening in front of 2,188. Miami was up just one, 16-15, at the end of the first quarter.
An impressive up-and-under from Lashae Dwyer with 2:04 in the first half put Miami ahead, 26-23. Another individual effort – this one from Day-Wilson with 55 seconds remaining – and a turnover from the Jaguars that resulted in a put-back from Patrick gave Miami a 31-25 halftime lead.
“Kyla was iffy in the middle, but she came through at the end,” Meier said. “I was really excited for her, Jas and Shay. They had great games for us.”
10 of Reed’s points came in the first half for the Jaguars.
Trailing by seven in the early stages of the third period, the Jaguars battled back to tie the game, 36-36, on a contested layup by Legions with 5:14 left in the stanza.
A layup from Fontenot gave the Jaguars a 41-39 lead, and another bucket – this one from Tionna Lidge, the Jaguars’ sixth straight made basket – forced Meier to call a timeout with her side trailing, 43-39.
A jumper from Roberts with less than a minute remaining in the third halted a 16-3 Jaguars’ run.
Miami continues its season on Fri., Nov. 24 with its opening game of the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament – a 4 p.m. matchup with Colgate at the Watsco Center.
