Syracuse grad transfer Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi helps lead UM to 71-65 win over the Orange
Beating Syracuse Thursday night was extra special for Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi.
It was the first time the French graduate student played against her former team, and she made a significant contribution to help lead the Hurricanes to a 71-65 win over the Orange.
Djaldi-Tabdi, who scored 14 points, is one of a dozen former Syracuse players who transferred last spring. A few months later Orange coach Quentin Hillsman resigned amid an investigation that he bullied and threatened players.
Only three players remain from last year’s Syracuse team and the program signed seven players from the transfer portal. Their roster was thin on Thursday as only six players saw action while Miami played 11.
Djaldi-Tabdi capped a 10-0 Miami run at the end of the third quarter to give the Hurricanes a 16-point lead, their biggest of the night. The Orange outscored UM 19-4 over the next stretch and cut Miami’s lead to one, but the Hurricanes woke up, went on a 9-0 run and held on.
“It was great to see so many faces I knew but knowing the team was very different it was like playing a completely different team,” Djaldi-Tabdi said.
Meier said she met with Djaldi-Tabdi on Wednesday and the player reassured her she was ready emotionally for the game.
“She’s never left a bad mark anywhere she is, they love her at Syracuse,” Meier said. “I remember our men were playing Syracuse and we were ending practice and Syracuse men and team were in the hallway and every single Syracuse person stopped and said `Maeva!’ like they were so happy to see her. Hugs, sincere hugs from the assistant coaches and the head coach. You can just tell Meave has a beautiful personality.”
Lola Pendande had 14 points for Miami, M.J. Sidi Baba had a career-high 16 rebounds and Karla Erjavec dished out eight assists with no turnovers. UM outrebounded Syracuse 53-36 and held a 42-16 edge on points in the paint.
“This is a game we had to win, and it got really scary and the win was huge,” Meier said. “It was hard to bounce back and stay focused after that gritty, ridiculous effort we gave Tuesday (in a loss to No. 4 Louisville). I’m really happy to be .500 in the nation’s best or second-best conference.”
Syracuse’s co-leading scorer, Naje Murray, scored 15 points before being ejected at the end of the third quarter after two intentional fouls. Teisha Hyman also scored 15.
The Hurricanes improved to 12-8 overall and 5-5 in the ACC. Syracuse dropped to 9-11, 2-8.
UM’s next game is at No. 24 North Carolina at noon on Sunday.
This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 10:04 PM.