CORAL GABLES, Fla. – After a defensive struggle in the first half, Miami’s (4-0) persistent pressure and points in the paint pushed the Canes past Colgate (3-1), 67-49, in the Thanksgiving Classic opener Friday, Nov. 24.

Miami outscored Colgate, 23-0, in fast break points, while forcing the Raiders into 23 turnovers and multiple 10-second violations. A total of 29 of Miami’s points came via Colgate turnovers.

“At halftime we made some great adjustments,” head coach Katie Meier said. “We were talking [at halftime] about calming down, offensively too. We have to be more sophisticated and Colgate did some great things. But, that second half is more of who we need to be.”

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

Jasmyne Roberts had a quick four points as Miami held an 8-7 lead at the first media timeout after a back-and-forth five and a half minutes. Roberts paced the way with six points in the first frame as UM trailed by as many points.

Miami held Colgate scoreless for over five minutes to start the second frame as the Canes went on a 5-0 run. Latasha Lattimore pitched in with a bucket in her first game back on the court since December of 2022. Miami’s full court pressure concluded with a Kyla Oldacre bucket for a 19-18 lead and Lashae Dwyer lined up a three at the end of the first to even things at 25-25 through 20.

Full court pressure caused havoc in the third, with Jaida Patrick collecting a steal and the team defense creating a 10-second violation. Lazaria Spearman scored three quick buckets to create a 33-29 lead. 

From there the floodgates opened as Miami wore down Colgate. 

Lemyah Hylton lined up a three to extend Miami’s lead to 10 at 41-31 in he first double-digit lead of the ball game. Spearman got to 10 points and UM tallied a 6-0 run and more backcourt pressure to pull away.

“At halftime I told her [Spearman] that you owe us a game and a half,” Meier said. “We missed her in the last game and today she was kind of a no show in the first half…I thought she did a great job of that [coming through in the second half]…She almost had a double-double in 22 minutes.”

LEADERS BY THE NUMBERS

COLGATE

• Madison Schiller | 12 points
• Taylor Golembiewski | 14 points

MIAMI

• Jasmyne Roberts | 13 points
• Lazaria Spearman | 10 points, 9 rebounds
• Lashae Dwyer | 10 points
• Shayeann Day-Wilson | 8 points, 4 assists

NOTES

• It was the first-ever meeting between the two teams
• Lattimore made her first appearance since December of last season
• Dwyer has hit at least one three in three of four games
• Miami has gone with this starting five in three of four games
• All 10 active Canes scored at least one field goal
• Spearman reached double-digit points for the second time this season, coming up one board short of a double-double
• It was the second time holding a foe under 50 points this season

POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM COACH MEIER (PER WVUM 90.5)

UP NEXT

Miami gets ready to host ETSU in the Thanksgiving Classic finale Sunday at 1:30 p.m.