BLACKSBURG, Va.-Miami Hurricanes womenS basketball head coach Tricia Cullop reached a milestone, securing her 500th career victory in a thrilling 75-67 comeback win against Virginia tech. The victory, fueled by a resilient second-half performance, extends Miami’s winning streak to four games.
Canes Claw Back from Deficit for Cullop’s Historic Win
Table of Contents
miami overcame a slow start and a double-digit deficit to celebrate a significant achievement for their head coach.
- Ra Shaya Kyle led the Hurricanes with a dominant double-double, scoring 23 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
- Miami struggled offensively in the first half, shooting just 22.2% from the field in the opening five minutes.
- The Hurricanes outscored Virginia Tech 13-5 in overtime to seal the road victory.
- Miami now boasts a 10-4 overall record and a 2-1 mark in ACC play.
The Hurricanes’ victory wasn’t easy. Miami found themselves trailing early, but a determined effort in the second half, sparked by Kyle’s stellar performance, ultimately propelled them to success. The team’s ability to adjust and overcome adversity proved crucial in securing the milestone win for Cullop.
Early Struggles,Second-Half Surge
Miami began the game ice-cold,connecting on only 2 of 9 field goal attempts in the first five minutes. Cullop called a timeout with 4:33 remaining in the first quarter, as the Hurricanes found themselves down 12-4. Gal raviv, Soma Okolo, and Natalie Wetzel responded with three consecutive baskets, narrowing the gap to 12-10, but Virginia Tech answered with a pair of three-pointers to end the period leading 18-12.
The second quarter didn’t offer much improvement for Miami’s offense. Adams ignited a defensive spark with a steal, followed by another from Raviv, but the Hurricanes managed only 19 points in the first half, their lowest output of the season, trailing 33-19 at the break. Kyle was the only Hurricane to make a field goal in the second period.
Coming out of halftime,Miami displayed a renewed offensive intensity,shooting 60% from the field and scoring 12 points in the first four minutes. Amarachi Kimpson contributed six points during that stretch. However, Virginia Tech responded with an 8-0 run, extending their lead to 49-31.Meredith Tippner provided a late boost for Miami, scoring four points to close the third quarter with the score at 51-39.
dramatic Fourth Quarter and Overtime
Kimpson continued her offensive contributions early in the fourth, scoring five rapid points.Kyle and Osho added two points each, bringing Miami within 10 at 7:03 (57-48). The Hurricanes relentlessly chipped away at the deficit, getting within three points with two minutes remaining. Raviv then drained a crucial three-pointer to tie the game at 60-60. After a back-and-forth exchange, the score remained tied at 62-62 at the end of regulation.
Miami seized control in overtime, opening with a 6-2 run (68-64). From there, the Hurricanes dominated the extra period, outscoring Virginia Tech 13-5 to secure the 75-67 victory.Gal Raviv finished with 18 points,and Kimpson added 14.
Miami will return home to host Clemson on sunday, Jan. 4. Tipoff inside Watsco Centre is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the ACC matchup will be streamed on ACCNX.
