Hurricanes Women’s Basketball Team Remains Undefeated in 2023

The University of Miami women’s basketball team continued their winning streak to five games on Sunday, after defeating the Wake Forest Demon Deacons by the tune of 55-43, at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida. For the ninth time this season, Miami held an opponent to fewer than 60 points. The Hurricanes are undefeated this season when allowing 60 points or less in a game.

“I think Wake [Forest] did a great job and their new coach [Megan Gebbia] is doing a real nice job. You can tell they believe and are committed to the defensive end,” head coach Katie Meier said. “We were really focused on defending them, knowing it would be hard to score a bunch of points. We wanted a game in the 70s, but we were prepared to win a game in the 50s or 60s and that’s exactly what happened.”

Forward Destiny Harden recorded her 12^th double-digit scoring performance of the season on Sunday, compiling 13 points along with six assists and three rebounds. There was plenty of scoring to go around among the Hurricanes roster, eight different players scored at least two points over the duration of the game.

“[Destiny] has such a great shot chart that it was easier to get Des free than anyone else on the team. I think she really took care of business for us,” Meier said. “She didn’t force it all and shared the ball with her six assists. Des was the key to the game and helped us coach through a grind of a game.”

The Hurricanes recorded five assists on six made field goals in the first quarter to take a 16-13 lead through 10 minutes of play.

The defense would take charge in the second quarter, holding Wake Forest to only two points, on 1-of-10 shooting. The ‘Canes would close out the first half on a 7-0 run and went into halftime with the lead, 25-15.

Harden gave life to the Hurricanes offense in the third quarter, converting back-to-back 3-point plays to sustain Miami’s lead, 31-15, with 7:28 remaining in the third quarter. They would outscore the Demon Deacons, 18-12, in the third, mostly credited to a 53.8 shooting percentage as a team in the third quarter.

The Demon Deacons would begin the fourth quarter on a 9-3 run to reduce Miami’s lead to 10 halfway through the fourth. Senior and LifeWallet NIL athlete Hanna Cavinder became the eighth Hurricane to score a basket during Sunday’s game, after draining a 3-pointer with 5:16 remaining in regulation and putting an end to the Demon Deacons run.

Wake Forest would outscore the Hurricanes, 16-12, in the final 10 minutes, but the ‘Canes walked away with a 55-43 win and their fifth straight victory of the 2023 calendar year. It certainly has been quite the new year for the women’s team, by way of knocking off top-10 ranked Virginia Tech and top-25 ranked North Carolina during that span of time.

The women’s basketball team will be on the road Thursday when they travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, to take on the No. 11th/12th ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack. Tipoff is set for 6:00 P.M. EST at Reynolds Coliseum and the game will be broadcasted for all viewers on the ACC Network.