UM women overwhelmed by N.C. State 87-61 in ACC home opener
The ACC season got off to a miserable start for the University of Miami women’s basketball team, which was hoping to begin the school’s holiday break with a home victory.
Instead, the Hurricanes were overwhelmed by North Carolina State from the start of Sunday’s conference opener, spent the rest of the game trying to dig out of a deep hole, and lost 87-61.
“It was a perfect storm of we couldn’t stop them and we were having trouble executing offensively,” UM coach Tricia Cullop said. “There’s no excuse for it. I’m not going to blame the kids. I’m going to keep making sure that we do things better. We’re not 30 points less than this team and we’ve got to make sure that in ACC play we understand that there’s a lot at stake.”
Cullop was disappointed in the team’s lack of hustle, especially in the first half, and challenged them during intermission to pick up their energy and play with more pride.
The Wolfpack led by as many as 37 points early in the fourth period before Miami went on a 14-3 run to shrink the gap. The Hurricanes outscored N.C. State 41-39 in the second half, but the damage had already been done, and they were unable to overcome the deficit.
“Our team came out ready to play, and when you’re on the road, that’s really important,” said N.C. State coach Wes Moore. “We’ve had some really tough games down here, so I thought Z [Zamareya Jones] came out with a lot of energy, made some big plays, got some big shots for us to start the game and I think that momentum is contagious.”
Jones and Moore both said the Wolfpack’s defensive tenacity early in the game set the tone.
UM missed eight of its first 10 shots, made three early turnovers, the Wolfpack raced to an 18-4 lead in the opening minutes and by halftime Miami trailed 48-20.
The Hurricanes struggled on both ends of the floor before intermission, shooting 23 percent while being outrebounded 31-16 and outscored 22-4 in the paint.
Miami starting point guard Gal Raviv had an off day, going 1-for-10 in the first half before hopping off the court with a sprained ankle in the opening minute of the second half. She was replaced by freshman Meredith Tippner.
“I haven’t sat down with our trainers yet, but when I talked to her briefly after the game, I think she sprained her ankle, so my hope is she’s going to be okay,” Cullop said. “But it’s a great opportunity for other people. With her out, we played them tighter in the second half.”
Vittoria Blasigh came off the bench to lead the Hurricanes with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Ahnay Adams had 13 points and a team-high three assists. Ra Shaya Kyle added 12 points and 11 rebounds.
“The bright spot was Vicky [Blasigh],” Cullop said. “She did a great job off the bench and probably should be in the starting lineup now because I think she’s played her way into it. We’ve got to keep Nay [Adams] out of foul trouble. I love her energy, but there’s a big different in energy when she subs out, and she can’t pick up three fouls in the first half.”
UM was coming off a 99-46 rout of Georgia State, but Cullop knew Sunday’s conference opener would be a much more daunting task.
N.C. State reached the Sweet 16 last season and finished the year ranked No. 9.
Like most teams, the Wolfpack had a lot of changes to its roster, including the addition of junior forward Khamil Pierre, who transferred from Vanderbilt. Cullop warned her team about Pierre, after the junior forward had 19 points and 20 rebounds in an overtime loss ninth-ranked Oklahoma and grabbed 21 rebounds against Green Bay.
Pierre gave Miami fits all game and the Hurricanes had no answers. She finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and a block. Jones added 16 points.
“Unbelievable talent, unbelievable potential, high ceiling,” Moore said of Pierre. “She can be really special…always does a great job on both ends of the floor.”
The Hurricanes hit the road for a Thursday ACC game against Wake Forest and return home on Dec. 21 against Kennesaw State.