CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Four Bethune-Cookman players scored in double figures Sunday afternoon with Miami (Fla.) defeating visiting Bethune-Cookman, 81-63 in women's basketball action inside Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida.
 
FIRST QUARTER
Miami (8-1) shot just under 54 percent from the floor including 3 of 5 from three-point range to lead 17-11 after the opening quarter. Hurricanes forwards Natalija Marshall and Cameron Williams combined for 10 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting from the field, as well as collectively securing five rebounds.
 
Bethune-Cookman (2-6) received four points from senior guard/forward Kayla White as the Cleveland, Ohio, native shot 2-for-3 from the floor. B-CU was limited to just 23.8 percent from the field as a team, but did muscle out the Canes on the offensive glass as the Wildcats pulled down six offensive boards as compared to Miami's two.
 
SECOND QUARTER
Trailing by six to open the period, Bethune-Cookman got a three-pointer from Daimoni Dorsey, followed by a Kayla White steal and layup to bring the Wildcats to within 17-16. After a timeout by the Hurricanes, B-CU took its first lead of the afternoon courtesy a three-pointer from senior guard Shomari Phillips. The two teams traded baskets until Miami raced out to a 31-24 lead behind a Marshall three-pointer and teammate Jasmyne Roberts converting off a Wildcats miscue.
 
B-CU outperformed the Hurricanes in field goal percentage during the second period, shooting 46.7 percent in comparison to Miami's 42.1 percent. Both teams hit three (3) three-pointers, although the Canes would carry a 36-30 lead into the locker room at the half.
 
THIRD QUARTER
After Dorsey drained her second three-pointer of the day to bring the Cats to within 36-33 to begin the second half, the Hurricanes' Haley Cavinder connected on a jumper in the paint to answer. And it was a Roberts three-pointer preceding another Haley Cavinder layup off a Cats turnover, advancing the Canes lead, 43-33. In all, it was an 8-0 run by Miami later in the period that gave them their largest lead up to that point, 57-44 when Lemyah Hylton found Williams along the baseline for a layup.
 
The Hurricanes were 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the third quarter and scored five points off three B-CU turnovers. Asianae Nichols got going for the Cats with a 3-for-6 shooting touch in the period. Janessa Kelley also registered a three-pointer in the quarter as B-CU shot 2 of 5 from long range as a unit.
 
FOURTH QUARTER
Bethune-Cookman was forced into four turnovers in the fourth quarter resulting in seven points for the hosts. Miami connected on nine field goals – two coming from beyond the arc, while the Cats responded with a 33.3 percent shooting mark in the stanza. Miami pushed the lead to 20 late-on when Williams converted 1 of 2 at the foul line to put her side ahead, 81-61. Nicholson connected on a pair of free throws to produce the final 81-63 scoreline.
 
Kayla Clark was 2-for-4 shooting in the final quarter for B-CU, including a step back jumper from the top of the key just inside the three-point line. Phillips hit her team-high 10th three-pointer of the season as well.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Miami was led in scoring by three players in double figures including a game-high 20 points from Marshall. Williams finished with 17 points as both players were 7 of 10 shooting from the field, respectively. Marshall had four (4) three-pointers as well for the Canes. Haley Cavinder also recorded 13 points. Williams tallied a double-double with 10 rebounds to lead all in that category.
 
For B-CU, it was White leading all Wildcats scorers with 14 points, as Dorsey and Nicholson each had 12 points apiece. Clark finished the afternoon with 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
The Cats look to rebound Friday, Dec. 13, when traveling to Ohio to face Cleveland State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
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