UM women hold FAU to 40 points below average, improve to 4-0 with 56-46 home win
The Miami Hurricanes made just four of 25 three pointers against FAU Thursday night, but they were relentless on defense and improved to 4-0 with a 56-46 win at the Watsco Center.
UM held the Owls to 40 points below their average.
“Even though we’re not that exciting on offense, we’re a very fun team to watch defensively,” said UM women’s basketball coach Katie Meier. “FAU averages 86 points per game, our goal was to hold them to 30 under that, and we held them to 40 under their average. It was effort.”
Freshman guard LaShea Dwyer had eight steals to go with nine points.
“LaShea’s timing, vision and attacks were very high level,” Meier said. “I think she’s the story of the game. Eight steals is very hard to do.”
Dwyer said she did not expect to get that many steals, but says she was especially focused on the defensive end and happy to step up on a night the offense wasn’t clicking.
Kelsey Marshall led the Hurricanes with 14 points. Mykea Gray had an off night, going 2-for-10 from the field (1-of-7 three pointers) for seven points with two assists.
“Mykea and Kelsea were very disjointed,” Meier said. “Kelsey came out hot, trusted the looks we got her, but then forced a couple and the basketball gods get mad at you, and the shots you’re comfortable with don’t go in. Mykea started out very flat and didn’t have the assertive tempo I needed, so we took her out and I felt we looked just as good at times when Kelsea and Mykea were on the bench.”
Meier was disappointed in her players’ shot selection.
“I don’t think in any way, shape, or form we should be shooting 25 three pointers ever again if we’re only going to make four of them and I felt I was getting a little blown off by a couple players ignoring that advice,” Meier said. “Florida Atlantic was well prepared. They dared us to shoot from outside and we walked right into that dare, into that trap. We need to be a lot more mature than that.”
FAU (2-1) was led by Rita Pleskevich (12 points), Janeta Rozentale (11 points, 7 rebounds) and Amber Gaston (10 points). Miami travels to the Bahamas next week for the Baha Mar Hoops tournament where they will play Washington State on Nov. 25 and fourth-ranked Indiana on Nov. 27.