Basketball

“They were just faster than us,” Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “They beat us down the floor, they drove the ball to the basket, they got layups and got open threes. We couldn’t stop the dribble penetration and we couldn’t contest the threes well enough to make them miss.”

“There was never a point where we surrendered,” Miami head coach Katie Meier said. “We were stubborn, and we fought hard. The ball still needs to go in more, but when Kelsey [Marshall] got hot, the team really adjusted. We held an incredible team about 25 points below their average and that’s necessary right now. I’m really proud of them.”

The Hurricanes outscored North Texas 41-23 after halftime behind 14 second-half points from third-year sophomore guard Isaiah Wong.

“There’s no question that we are very disjointed and aren’t really a smooth offensive team,” Miami head coach Katie Meier said. “Washington State made some great adjustments at halftime and really got after it and we couldn’t overcome that gap.”

“We really need to rise to the challenge,” Meier said. “This is like an Elite Eight in women’s basketball, without question.”

While college basketball fans chow down on their turkey day feasts on Thursday, the Miami Hurricanes will be stuffed with seven other NCAA Tournament teams.

“He really quarterbacked the team,” Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “He scored the ball, he passed the ball and really got everybody involved.”

Senior guard Mykea Gray hit a transition 3-pointer with just 3:29 left in the game to break the fourth quarter seal for the Hurricanes (4-0), and added two free throws in the final minute to put a seal on the contest.

After a late Florida Atlantic run tied the game at 66, guard Isaiah Wong made a contested lay-up with 0.7 seconds remaining to give the Hurricanes a 68-66 victory.

With the dawn of the transfer portal in college basketball, many athletes have started at one university before moving on to another. The odyssey of Charlie Moore is one that has seen the Chicago-born guard play at four different schools.

“I’m ready to get out there,” Waardenburg said. “Sitting out a whole year when you’re a basketball player, you got that urge, you just want to get out there. It’s like an itch. I’m very excited, and I’m really looking forward for that first game.”

Barring a 28% shooting mark in the first half and 20 total turnovers, the Hurricanes cruised past Stetson 54-39 Sunday.