No. 23 UM women (minus Mompremier) fall 73-62 to No. 8 FSU. Here’s what happened
Playing one of the biggest games of the season without its biggest star, the 23rd-ranked University of Miami women’s basketball team fell short 73-62 at home to No. 8 Florida State.
UM announced just before tipoff that Preseason Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year Beatrice Mompremier would sit out the game because of a foot injury. Her status is day to day. She was missed. The 6-4 senior center was averaging 16.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, one of 17 Division I players to average at least 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Mompremier’s absence made the afternoon easier for FSU forward Kiah Gillespie, one of the top post players in the conference. Gillespie averaged double-doubles against UM last season and had another big day Sunday. She scored 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, made 4-of-6 three-pointers and had five rebounds.
Gillespie was one of four Seminoles in double figures, along with Morgan Jones (16), Nicki Ekhomu (15) and Nausia Woolfork (11 points, eight rebounds). Guard Mykea Gray, challenged by coach Katie Meier at halftime to make better decisions, led Miami with 21 points. Forward Brianna Jackson added 14 points and 10 rebounds in place of Mompremier.
“Coach pulled me aside before the game and said, `We need more rebounding, more hustle,’ “ Jackson said. “I’m the type of player that dives and makes hustle plays, so she wanted more of that out of me.”
The Hurricanes managed to outrebound the Seminoles 36-33, the first time FSU was outrebounded all season. And they forced FSU into a season-high 21 turnovers. But missed scoring chances plagued Miami at critical moments in the game.
FSU improved to 14-1 and 3-1 in the ACC. UM fell to 9-5, 1-2.
“Goodness, to outrebound Florida State and force them into 21 turnovers, that’s a heck of an effort,” UM coach Katie Meier said. “I’m really proud of Bri. She’s a special young lady. She handles a lot of responsibility in her life. She has broad shoulders. You can put a lot on her.”
Freshman Moulayna Johnson Sidi Baba also missed the game with an ankle injury.
The short-staffed Hurricanes kept up with the Seminoles in the first quarter and were still within three points five minutes before halftime. That’s when things unraveled for Miami. The Canes had five turnovers and no field goals the final 4:34 of the half, and FSU took advantage with a 13-1 run to stretch its lead to 39-26 at the break.
FSU outshot Miami 63 percent to 39 percent in the first half and opened the second half with five quick points. The Hurricanes went on a 10-1 run in the third quarter, a pair of Destiny Harden baskets got UM within nine, FSU pulled ahead, Miami answered with nine unanswered points and trailed by seven with eight minutes to go in the game.
But the Canes missed a few layups, went cold for nearly four minutes, and the Seminoles held on for the victory. It was FSU’s 10th win in the past 11 meetings against UM, the Seminoles’ only loss last March at the Watsco Center.
“I feel like their two All-Conference players, that are amazing, Kiah and Nicki, made really important plays for them,” Meier said. “They stayed composed. We had opportunities at the free-throw line and missed layups. It is something we need to fix. But I like my talent.”
Miami’s next game is Jan. 9 at home against Louisville.