UM women suffer first loss of the season 88-70 to Vanderbilt in SEC/ACC Challenge
The University of Miami women’s basketball team finally ran into a team it couldn’t handle and suffered its first loss of the season 88-70 to Vanderbilt in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Wednesday.
The Commodores led from start to finish and the Hurricanes had no answer for Vandy’s dynamic duo of sophomore Khamil Pierre and freshman Mikayla Blakes, who combined for 54 points.
Pierre led the way with 28 points, 13 rebounds and four steals after missing the previous game with an ankle injury. Blakes, the nation’s leading freshman scorer, finished with 26. They are one of the highest-scoring pairs of teammates in the country this season and were averaging a combined 39.5 points heading into the game.
Vanderbilt is No. 7 in the latest NET national ranking, the highest in program history, and improved to 9-1. The Canes, who ranked 73, dropped to 7-1.
In addition to the offensive firepower of Pierre and Blakes, the Commodores rank in the Top 10 in turnover margin and the Hurricanes had trouble hanging on to the ball.
Miami lost the ball 21 times and Vanderbilt took advantage with a 27-14 edge on points off turnovers. The Commodores also controlled the offensive boards 17-6 and outscored Miami 16-2 on second chance points.
“Twenty one turnovers and 17 offensive rebounds we gave them, those are two things we actually talked about that could not happen if we wanted to win,” UM coach Tricia Cullop said. “It’s a hard lesson, but it’s really early in the season and this is not the end of the world.”
Cullop said the loss is a chance for this newly assembled team to learn and grow.
“I do think we have the talent to play with that team; unfortunately, the first half we dug ourselves in a hole and chased the rest of the way against a really good team,” she said. “We’re going to go back, watch film, regroup and get better from it.”
Jasmyne Roberts led Miami with 19 points with three assists and four steals. Cameron Williams added 14 points and five rebounds. Haley Cavinder, coming off a 30-point performance against Quinnipiac on Sunday, scored 13 points and went 0-for-5 from three-point range.
Miami did fine offensively, shooting 53 percent from the field, but paid a price on the other end of the floor.
“The sad thing is, when we weren’t turning it over, we shot 53 percent from the field and 35 percent from three,” Cullop said. “If we eliminate the turnovers and second chance opportunities for them, it’s a ball game.”
Roberts and Williams both felt the Hurricanes made it too easy for the Commodores from the opening tip.
“I think they just felt a little too comfortable,” Williams said. “We should have done a better job at hitting first. We knew it was going to be a battle down low; they’re one of the top offensive rebounding teams in the country and we just have to take more pride in that. We have to be more physical when we play these types of matchups. We’ve got to be the aggressor.”
Roberts agreed.
“They outhustled us to rebound the ball,” she said. “Sometimes they were getting open shots. We have to go back to practice and fix things up on defense. But, they’re a great team and had a really good game.”
The Hurricanes are back home Sunday at 2 p.m. against Bethune-Cookman.
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 8:05 PM.