UM women stifle Pitt 62-44, play season finale at home Sunday vs. Georgia Tech
The University of Miami women’s basketball team, trying to play its way to a post-season berth after a run to the Elite Eight last year, routed Pitt 62-44 on Thursday and plays its regular season finale at home Sunday against Georgia Tech at 2 p.m.
Miami is 18-10 and sits in ninth place in the ACC with an 8-9 conference record. Last season, eight ACC teams made the NCAA Tournament, and the Hurricanes got that final berth with a 19-12 record.
With Thursday’s victory, Miami locked in the number nine seed in the 2024 ACC Championship. UM will face the number eight seed Thursday, March 7.
After a mid-February slump, UM won back-to-back games against Clemson and Pitt. The Hurricanes held the Panthers (8-22, 2-15 ACC) to 15 points in the first half.
“We have a goal where we hold our opponents to at least one single digit quarter and we held them to two, and that was big,” UM coach Katie Meier said.
Lashae Dwyer, Jaida Patrick and Jasmyne Roberts all scored in double figures, while the defense generated 11 steals and seven blocks. The 44 points allowed was the fewest for UM in league play this season.
Dwyer had 17 points off the bench on 6-of-9 shooting. Roberts also scored 17, going 7-for-9, and Jaida Patrick added 16 points and six rebounds.
“Lashae Dwyer, what an inspirational performance, shooting 75 percent from three…Ja’Leah Williams was plus-24 the whole time she was in…we have to rest up for a very tough Georgia Tech team. We were very lucky to beat them in Atlanta last time. We’re going to need a whole team effort.”
Georgia Tech is 15-14 and 6-11 in the ACC. The Yellow Jackets have lost four of their past five games, including a 62-60 loss to Miami.