The Miami Hurricanes women’s basketball team (12-5, 2-4 ACC) delivered a remarkable performance, shooting 53.6 percent from the field and holding No. 4 NC State (15-2, 3-2 ACC) to a mere 28.1 percent, securing a stunning 73-59 victory over the Wolfpack on Thursday night.
The trio of Jasmyne Roberts, Shayeann Day-Wilson, and Lashae Dwyer each contributed 18 points, leading Miami to success. Notably, the Hurricanes dominated in bench points, outscoring NC State 28-0, and excelled in points in the paint with a 38-16 advantage.
This victory stands as one of Miami’s highest-ranked home wins, equaling the achievement of defeating No. 4 Notre Dame at home twice in program history. The Hurricanes, previously 10-1, faced a challenging stretch with four losses in five conference games. It was Miami’s third-straight game against a ranked ACC team and fourth out of six to start league play. However, the team rebounded with a collective commitment to each other, resulting in a cohesive display of skill on both ends of the court.
Head coach Katie Meier praised her team’s resilience, highlighting crucial rebounds and big plays that made a significant impact. Meier emphasized the players’ commitment to their roles, contributing to what she described as a “great win.” Meier acknowledged that while N.C. State may not have been at their best, Miami played a pivotal role in the outcome—the absence of N.C. State’s 6-foot-5 center, River Baldwin, outscoring the Wolfpack 38-16 in the paint. Baldwin’s absence, due to an ankle injury, provided an opportunity that Miami successfully exploited.
After shooting under 20% on 3-pointers in their previous two games, the Hurricanes opened by hitting three of their first four against N.C. State and would set the tone early in the game, shooting an impressive 83.3 percent from the floor in the first five minutes. With Jasmyne Roberts contributing four points, the Hurricanes established an 11-8 lead. A subsequent 10-2 run and a 75 percent shooting rate in the first quarter extended Miami’s advantage to 21-10.
The Wolfpack couldn’t counter with an extended run to overcome the early deficit.
“That’s credit to our defense,” Roberts said. “Even when we didn’t score, we were still able to keep them from scoring.”
In the second quarter, Lashae Dwyer’s seven quick points helped maintain a double-digit lead for Miami. Lazaria Spearman and Latasha Lattimore played key roles on both ends of the floor, contributing points and creating second-chance opportunities. The first half concluded with Miami shooting 59.4 percent and holding a 43-32 lead.
The second half saw Shayeann Day-Wilson setting the tone with a three-pointer, restoring Miami’s lead to a game-high 14. Although NC State narrowed the deficit, Jasmyne Roberts and Lashae Dwyer responded with crucial shots, maintaining a double-digit lead. The third quarter ended with Miami holding a 51-43 lead.
Despite N.C. State’s efforts to rally from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter, narrowing the score to 56-50 in the final frame, Miami responded decisively with a 14-2 run. Dwyer’s clutch 3-pointer with 2:05 left sealed the deal, extending the lead to 70-52. Day-Wilson continued to shine in the fourth quarter, securing an and-one transition bucket to keep Miami in control. Despite NC State’s efforts to chip away at the lead, Dwyer and Roberts, both juniors, stepped up with consecutive big shots. Miami’s strong defense forced NC State into seven turnovers in the fourth quarter.
Jasmyne Roberts reflected on the team’s resilience in the face of challenges, stating, “Everyone just locked in and was committed to each other.”
Miami now enjoys a weekend off before heading to Chapel Hill to face the North Carolina Tar Heels on Thursday, January 25th. The team’s incredible performance against NC State sets a positive tone as they look ahead to future challenges in ACC play.
