Miami Upended in Road-Swing Opener at No. 11 Virginia Tech

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Miami women’s basketball (11-4, 1-3 ACC) traded blows with No. 11 Virginia Tech (13-2, 4-0 ACC) early, but the Hokies pulled away and stayed ahead after a big second quarter as the Canes dropped the road-swing opener, 76-52, Thursday, Jan. 11.

FINAL | No. 11 VT 76, (RV) Miami 52

Miami held Virginia Tech 0-for-5 from deep through the first five minutes and Shayeann Day-Wilson posted six points as the Canes grabbed a 10-9 lead at the first media timeout. Miami did damage in the paint and kept the Hokies scoreless from deep as things were even at 14-14 through ten.

Lashae Dwyer started Miami off with two tough buckets in the second, giving UM a two-point lead early on. VT’s Liz Kitley kept the Hokies afloat despite UM’s stingy perimeter defense as things were knotted up at 20-20.

Virginia Tech would go on an 8-0 run before the media timeout to take a 28-20 lead. That run expanded to a 15-0 stretch as the hosts took a 35-20 lead with 2:34 to go.

“We had some people that were playing really well and they were in foul trouble, but Virginia Tech got the momentum and then the crowd got involved and they started hitting [their shots],” head coach Katie Meier said.

Jasmyne Roberts broke the run with a layup after a Canes’ offensive rebound, but UM trailed, 40-24, through 20. The Hokies started the second half with consecutive three-pointers and stayed in front the rest of the way.

NOTES

• It was Miami’s fourth game against a ranked team this year and third away from the Watsco Center
• It was the 35th meeting between the two teams
• Day-Wilson went for her eighth double-digit scoring game of the year
• Day-Wilson tied her season high with 19 points
• Dwyer posted a season high for rebounds
• Williams had her fifth double-digit scoring game in six contests, setting a season high in rebounds

“We can’t move forward unless we own it and that was my message in the locker room after the game,” Meier said.

UP NEXT
The Canes finish their road swing Sunday at noon at No. 18/19 Notre Dame.