UM women beat FIU 79-51, improve to 4-0, earn another ice cream party from Coach Cullop
A love of ice cream may be the secret to the University of Miami women’s basketball team’s success so far this season.
First-year coach Tricia Cullop promised the team free ice cream every time they make more than 80 percent of their free throws, and the Hurricanes did it again Tuesday night, hitting 85 percent from the line in a 79-51 win over crosstown rival FIU.
Miami made 22 of its 26 free throw attempts. Entering the game, they ranked 15th in the nation with 81.2 percent free throw percentage.
“I think they like ice cream, because I’ve paid up a lot lately,” Cullop joked after the game. “But no, we really talked about the value of free throws and how they can win or lose you games. Our first exhibition game, I think we shot 40 percent, so we had a long talk about it after that and they responded.”
There is always an extra boost of energy in the building when UM plays FIU, and Tuesday’s game at the Watsco Center was no different.
The Hurricanes, coming off a big road victory at the University of Florida, struggled early but found their groove and rolled past the upset-minded Panthers.
“This could have been a trap game for us,” Cullop said. “You have a big win against the in-state rival, against Florida on the road, and you come back home and if you don’t take care of business, this could have gotten messy. We knew FIU would be excited to play this game. I would have if I were them. But our veteran players stepped up.”
Miami missed 10 of its first 12 shots, and FIU took advantage, racing to an eight-point lead. But then Jasmyne Roberts and Natalija Marshall led a UM spurt and a layup by Cam Williams tied it up 19-19. UM stayed in control, outscored the Panthers by 13 in the second quarter, stretched the lead to 40-27 by halftime, and never trailed again.
Eleven different Hurricanes scored on Tuesday. Mississippi State transfer Darrione Rogers, a senior guard, led with 12 points. Freshman guard Ahnay Adams had 11 points in 14 minutes. Roberts, one of just three returnees from last season, scored nine points and grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.
“We’re really good, and growing each and every game,” Roberts said. “Coming off the Florida win, Coach really emphasized not being complacent and coming out even hungrier against this team. “
Rogers added: “Overall, this was a great team win. We’re learning to play with one another, and at the end of the day, we believe in ourselves and each other.”
Haley Cavinder, who was named U.S. Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week for her 31-point performance against the Gators, was held to seven points but had six rebounds and a game-high six assists. Her twin sister, Hanna, chipped in eight points, one rebound and two assists. Between them, the Cavinder twins contributed 15 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
Asked if FIU did anything special to contain Haley Cavinder, Cullop said: “She still had nine shots, but they just weren’t falling as much. At times they were aggressive, probably trying to deny her the ball. She’s unselfish and will make the extra pass. And we gave some other people some chances when shots weren’t falling for some of our older kids and other people responded.
“[Cavinder] filled the stat sheet in other ways, and the nice thing is, when you can put in other people and they make things happen and step up.”
Miami forced FIU into 32 turnovers and held the Panthers to 3-of-17 shooting from beyond the arc (18 percent).
Parris Atkins led the Panthers with 12 points and had seven rebounds. Fantasia James and Isnelle Natabou each added nine points and seven rebounds.
The Hurricanes improved to 4-0. They are back home Friday at 5 p.m. against Campbell. FIU dropped to 1-3.
This story was originally published November 19, 2024 at 10:09 PM.