Miami Sweeps Thanksgiving Tourney With Rout of ETSU

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Shayeann Day-Wilson stole the show, shooting a perfect clip from the field en route to Miami’s (5-0) 68-44 rout of ETSU (4-2). The Canes claimed the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament crown with the win, improving to 5-0 to start the year.

Day-Wilson didn’t miss, going 5-for-5 from deep for 19 points, tying Shenise Johnson and Kelsey Marshall for the third-best shooting performance from beyond the arc in Miami single-game history. 

Day-Wilson was tabbed as tourney MVP, while Lazaria Spearman and Ja’Leah Williams took home all-tourney laurels.

MIAMI 68, ETSU 44

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

Ja’Leah Williams hit a pull up jumper and got to the rim for another two as Miami and ETSU traded buckets in the early going. ETSU found the bottom of the net for a pair of threes, giving the Bucs an 8-7 lead through the first media timeout. Williams traded a three-pointer with ETSU once more, but Shayeann Day-Wilson hit another and Williams added a bucket to push the lead to 17-11. Miami stood tall on defense, holding a 19-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Canes didn’t allow ETSU to finish clean down low, while Lazaria Spearman and Kyla Oldacre got to work in the paint, pushing Miami to a 25-16 lead at the second quarter media timeout. Day-Wilson hit a deep three as the shot clock ticked down, putting the Miami lead to 30-18, its largest of the game thus far. Miami would allow only more field goal in the frame, taking a 13-point lead into the half.

A defense-heavy third quarter shifted when Lashae Dwyer got a tough bucket to go and exquisite ball movement set up Jaida Patrick for a three-pointer. The threes continued to rain from Day-Wilson, while Ally Stedman got one to roll in and Latasha Lattimore swatted an ETSU attempt from deep. All told for the third, Miami allowed just six points, while putting up 16.

All 10 Canes got in the scoring column as Day-Wilson broke the 20-point marker and Miami pulled away with the win.

LEADERS BY THE NUMBERS

ETSU

• Nevaeh Brown | 9 points
• Kendall Folley | 8 points, 4 assists

MIAMI

• Shayeann Day-Wilson | 19 points, 7-for-7, 5-for-5 (3PT), 3 assists
• Ja’Leah Williams | 9 points
• Lazaria Spearman | 5 points, 7 rebounds

NOTES

• It was the second-ever meeting between the two teams
• Miami and ETSU last played one another in 1982
• Coach Meier and ETSU’s head coach, Brenda Mock Brown, both spent time at UNC Charlotte earlier in their respective careers
• It was Miami’s first game against a SoCon team since taking on Davidson in December of 2012
• This was just the fifth game against SoCon foes in program history
• Miami assistant coach Josh Petersen coached under ETSU head coach, Mock Brown, during his four years at UNC Asheville.
• The game completes a season-opening five-game home stand, the longest on the year for Miami during the 2023-24 season
• Miami is 5-0 to start the year for the third time under coach Meier.

UP NEXT

Miami takes to the road for the first time this season when it goes to Mississippi State Wednesday, Nov. 29.