Gritty Canes Topple No. 21 Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Despite falling behind 8-0 after the opening whistle, a resilient and clutch Miami (6-0) women’s basketball team replied and eventually upended No. 21 Mississippi State (8-1), 74-68, Wednesday, Nov. 29.
For the Canes it’s their first road non-conference ranked win during the regular season since 2016, as well as their first-ever ranked SEC-road win.
MIAMI 74, No. 21 MISSISSIPPI STATE 68
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
Mississippi State went on an 8-0 run to start the game, but Jasmyne Roberts hit a mid-range jumper to get Miami on the board. Lazaria Spearman did big-time work down low and Jaida Patrick drilled a three-pointer to get Miami to within 15-9 at the first media timeout. Miami got a big lift from seven Lemyah Hylton points, cutting the deficit to just 20-18 at the end of the first quarter.
Hylton got Miami even for the first time since the opening tip with a turnaround jumper from fifteen. Shayeann Day-Wilson drained a three-pointer to put the Canes up, 23-20, at the 7:38 mark, Miami’s first lead of the game. Mississippi State stayed behind until a three-pointer at 4:13 evened it at 27-27. Roberts replied with a tough bucket in the paint to give Miami the two-point lead. Mississippi State replied with consecutive three-pointers to regain a 33-29 advantage with 2:42 to go. A physical final few minutes of the first half ended with the Bulldogs in front by three.
Exquisite ball movement setup Roberts for a corner three-pointer and a 38-37 lead early in the second. Mississippi State scored in transition to create a four-point lead, but Roberts was timely again, drilling another trey. Ja’Leah slashed to the hoop and gave Miami a 48-47 lead at the three-minute mark in the third. The Bulldogs responded with a three, but Latasha Lattimore got the cup for a game-tying layup, making it 50-50.
Kyla Oldacare made a putback bucket to put the Canes up first in the fourth. The Bulldogs hit a three-pointer, but Hylton drained her own and converted the free throw after being fouled. Day-Wilson then hit a pull-up jumper, giving Miami a six-point lead, its largest of the game.
Lattimore scored one at the line and hit a clutch-unmarked three at the top of the key, keeping the lead at six. The Bulldogs scratched their way back, tying it at 65-65 with just over four minutes left. Mississippi State couldn’t get an equalizer and Hylton came up big with a three to extend the lead to 70-65. Miami got the stops it needed and pulled away with the win.
NOTES
- This was just the second-ever meeting between the two teams
- First-ever competition in the ACC/SEC Challenge
- Miami last played a ranked SEC team in LSU during the Elite 8 last season
- It was Miami’s first-ever game at Mississippi State
- It was Spearman’s first double-digit rebounding game of the season. She also reached a double-double in the win.
- Miami reached double-digit three-pointers of the third time this season
UP NEXT
The Canes come back to the Watsco Center to host NJIT Sunday, Dec. 3 at noon.
