CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman placed three players in double figures for scoring Sunday afternoon, but it was not enough as the University of Miami was able to hold off the Wildcats by a score of 55-47 in non-conference women's basketball action at the BankUnited Center.
Behind a 67 percent shooting touch from beyond the arc, Bethune-Cookman (0-2) held a slim 21-19 edge at the half.
In the second half, Miami (2-0) began the third quarter with a 14-2 run that put the homestanding Hurricanes out in front, 33-23 with 6:27 remaining in the quarter. During the run, Miami's Michelle Woods connected on four (4) three-pointers, adding to her game-high 17 points for the game. She would finish the night 4-of-10 from long range.
Jasmine Knowles (Romulus, Mich.) connected on a three-pointer from the right side to stop the Hurricanes' run, and bring her team within seven points at 33-26.
Angel Golden, a freshman from Tampa, Florida, followed with one of her team-high four baskets from long range, chipping into the lead further, 33-31. The Alonso High alum finished the night with 13 points – 12 of those coming on three-point baskets.
However, Miami would finish the quarter on a 6-2 run, sparked by Erykah Davenport on the inside as she provided back-to-back layups in the paint, giving the Canes a 39-33 advantage heading into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, Miami continued to heat up from the outside as Adrienne Motley connected a three-pointer to put the Canes up by double-digits again, this time at 47-37 with just over five minutes remaining. That basket came moments after B-CU had chipped into the lead at 41-36, before Laura Cornelius hit a three-pointer from the left sideline, allowing UMiami the 44-37 advantage.
The lead stretched to 12 in favor of the Canes when Keyona Hayes' jumper from just inside the paint found its way through the netting, allowing UMiami its largest lead of the afternoon, 49-37, with 3:07 showing on the clock.
All-MEAC preseason selection Kailyn Williams (New Orleans, La.) hit a turnaround jumper to make the deficit 49-39, followed by two (2) three-pointers from Golden to bring the Maroon and Gold to within 51-45 with 1:28 remaining.
After Taylor Houston (Raleigh, N.C.) placed a layup through the net to make it 51-47 in favor of the Hurricanes, Bethune-Cookman head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis and the Wildcats were forced to foul the rest of the way, hoping Miami would miss free throws.
Miami would convert on 4-for-6 shots from the charity stripe during the remaining 43 seconds of play, as the Cats dropped the first of back-to-back road games on the week.
Bethune-Cookman finished the game shooting 60 percent from the three-point line, and 41.5 percent overall from the field. The Cats defense limited the Hurricanes to just 36.2 percent shooting in the contest, as well as 26.9 percent from beyond the arc.
The Wildcats were led in scoring by Houston with 15 points, as she finished 6-of-9 from the field. Golden dropped in 13 points and four rebounds, while Knowles landed 11 points, handing out four assists and collecting a steal.
Woods led Miami with 17 points, followed in scoring by Hayes, ending her day with a double-double effort of 12 points and 11 rebounds.
B-CU returns to the court Wednesday, Nov. 18, traveling to Western Carolina in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
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