Winter Park, FL- The Crimson Tide women’s basketball team was in search of their fourth consecutive victory against the no. 24 Miami Hurricanes.
This matchup was Alabama’s second of the Florida Sunshine Classic, winning their first decisively over Virginia 64-52.
Miami also achieved victory in game of the tournament over Vanderbilt dominantly 90-65.
This was the Hurricanes fourth straight win improving their record to 10-2 on the season.
“The U” found themselves at number twenty four in the country because of big wins against No.19 Marquette and Nebraska amount other schools.
Playing a ranked opponent is always a daunting task and the Crimson Tide showed nervousness early. They allowed a 9-0 Miami run to begin the game and wouldn’t get their first bucket until nearly five minutes into the game.
The Hurricanes would continue their early dominance going up by as many as fourteen at 17-3 with four minutes to go in the period.
UM would grow their lead even further up 22-7 with a minute to go, but would lead by thirteen 22-9 at the end of the first quarter.
Not much would change in the second ten minutes of action for either team, Miami continued to score Alabama did the opposite.
The Hurricanes took an eighteen point lead several different times in the first four minutes, a 6-0 Crimson Tide run cut the lead to just eleven 37-26 with five minutes in the half.
Miami would stop this comeback in its tracks and push their lead all the way out to nineteen 51-32 with a minute and half to go in the second.
With five seconds to go in the quarter the Hurricanes would find themselves with their biggest lead of the game 55-34 after a pair of free throws from Mykea Gray. That score would remain at the halfway mark.
Throughout the entire third quarter Miami’s lead shifted from fifteen points to twenty points and back down on an endless cycle.
But once again the Hurricanes got their biggest lead of the game with just seconds remaining in the third at twenty two this time 77-55.
In the final quarter UM would lead by as many as twenty six, and never allowed Alabama back under twenty.
To end the game Miami would tie their biggest lead of the contest and roll on to a 101-74 trouncing of the Crimson Tide.
This loss ends Alabama’s three game win streak and their tenure at the Florida Sunshine Classic.
101 is the most points Bama has allowed the entire season and the first time an opponent has scored triple digits.
The Tide now look to turn the page as they begin SEC competition in just over two weeks after the team’s mini Christmas break.
Alabama will host Florida in the matchup tip-off set for 7 pm ct.
Player of the Game: Junior, Guard Cierra Johnson; 27 pts, 6 rebs, 6-7 FTs.
(Photo courtesy of The Crimson White)
