CORAL GABLES, Fla. –Senior
Lindsey Abed and Junior
Sierra DaCosta combined for 42 points, but No. 24 Miami slipped past Hartford late, 75-62, in the second round of the Preseason Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) Sunday afternoon.
DaCosta scored a game-high 24 points and Abed registered 18 points, four assists and two steals, as the Hawks fall to 1-2 on the season. Beatrice Mompremier finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season, as the Hurricanes remain undefeated at 3-0.
MIAMI 75 HARTFORD 62
It was a tight first quarter as neither team could open-up more than a three-point lead in the early going. Hartford pulled ahead by one as freshman
Jabria Ingram beat the shot clock and splashed a three pointer from the top of the key for the 9-8 lead with 3:44 remaining in the first. Miami battled back and took the four-point lead before DaCosta took a pass from freshman
Jordan McLemore and knocked down a jumper with 12 seconds remaining in the first period making the score 13-11 heading into the second.
The Hawks continued to pressure the Hurricanes in the second quarter and took the lead once again with 3:31 left in the half when DaCosta got to the hoop for the layup, giving Hartford the 24-23 lead. Miami responded, pushing its lead to five, before Abed found DaCosta for the final basket of the half with 48 seconds remaining, making the halftime score 29-26.
The Hurricanes began to increase their lead in the third, pushing it to eight (39-31) with 6:55 on the clock. The Hawks pulled back within three at 46-43 as Abed took a pass from graduate student
Ella Awobajo and knocked down the jumper with 3:00 remaining in the third.
Miami, however began to creep away at the end of third quarter, pushing its lead to 10 and did not allow its lead to dip under six in the final quarter to secure its third win of the season 75-62.
NEWS AND NOTES
- DaCosta was two points shy of tying her career-high 26 points, which she has scored twice, most recently against Niagra last season.
- Senior Kelly Douglass scored a season-high seven points.
- Sophomore Jade Young finished with a season-high four steals.
- Hartford forced 18 Miami turnovers and finished with 11 steals.
- The Hurricanes did the majority of their damage in the paint, outscoring the Hawks 48-12.
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford waits to find out its opponent in the consolation round of the Preseason WNIT. Game will be played on either Friday or Saturday.
