CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Illinois State women's basketball team (0-5) committed a season-high 27 turnovers, as Miami (3-2) capitalized on the miscues, scoring 37 points off of ISU's mistakes. The Hurricanes' press proved to be more than the Redbirds could handle, as they fell, 95-44, in the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament Friday at BankUnited Center. Miami recorded 17 steals in the game, the most by an ISU opponent this season.
In addition to the Redbird turnovers, Miami was strong from the field, as it sank 49 percent of its shot attempts. ISU connected on 31 percent of its attempts from the field and went without a basket from three-point range. The Hurricanes pulled down 51 rebounds, while the Redbirds grabbed 34 boards.
"We worked on their press all week, but in a game it is different," head coach Barb Smith said. "It was tough for us to keep up. We were trying hard, but it just wasn't working out for us. We got down and would have to try and come back and one thing led to another. Miami shot and boxed out very well. They really only gave us one shot each time down the floor. They did a good job."
Taylor Stewart led ISU and just missed a double-double, as she scored a career-high 16 points and pulled down a career-high eight rebounds. Stekara Hall added 10 points, as the only other Redbird to score in double figures. Hall also pulled down five rebounds, the second most for an Illinois State player in the game. Octavia Crump recorded three blocks for a career high, while Stewart and Colleene Smith both collected two steals.
Illinois State got off to a slow start, as Miami jumped out to a quick 10-point lead, 12-2, including a 10-0 run, five minutes into the game. ISU battled back and pulled within six points, but an 8-0 run by the Hurricanes gave Miami a 24-10 lead at the 9:25 mark of the first half. The Hurricanes scored two shots beyond the arc during the run.
ISU answered and cut Miami's lead to 11 points, 27-16, off of a 6-3 run with 7:47 remaining in the first half. However, the Hurricanes' press continued and the Redbirds struggled with turnovers, as ISU couldn't adjust and headed into the locker room down by 20 points, 44-24. Fourteen Redbird turnovers in the first half resulted in 20 points off of turnovers for the Hurricanes.
After the first half, Hall led all scorers with 10 points and three rebounds, while Crump and Stewart added six. ISU shot 36 percent from the field, while Miami connected on 44 percent of its shots. Illinois State couldn't connect from three-point range, as Miami hit four three-pointers. The Hurricanes also had the advantage on the boards, pulling down 25 rebounds compared to the Redbirds' 16 boards.
Miami maintained its offensive attack and press to open the second half, and it proved to be too much for Illinois State, as the Hurricanes used a 30-0 run to take a 74-24 advantage with 11 minutes left in the game. ISU opened the second half 0-of-17 from the field, as the Redbirds went without a field goal over 15 minutes, until Katy Winge found the bottom of the net at the 8:39 mark. It was ISU's first field goal since 3:51 in the first half.
Illinois State found some offense in the middle of the second half, thanks to Winge and Stewart. Winge scored four points, while Stewart netted 10 to give life back to the Redbirds. However, the Hurricanes' lead proved to be too much, as ISU fell to Miami, 95-44.
The Redbirds return to the court Saturday, as they take on the loser between Tulsa and Buffalo at 2 p.m. (CST).
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