Marshall, Williams shoot 70 percent, lead UM women to 81-63 win over Bethune-Cookman

University of Miami students are in the throes of final exams this week, and the women’s basketball team was tested early by visiting Bethune-Cookman on Sunday afternoon before pulling away for an 81-63 victory.

The Hurricanees led the Wildcats by just two points late in the first half, got an earful from coach Tricia Cullop at halftime and got stronger as the game wore on. They had stretched the lead to 11 points entering the fourth quarter and kept control the rest of the way.

Cheered on by several hundred spirited Girl Scouts, Miami improved its record to 8-1. The Canes were eager to get back to winning after suffering their first loss against Vanderbilt last week.

Miami got a strong performance from its front court, which benefited from a height advantage over the Wildcats.

Natalija Marshall, a Notre Dame transfer, scored a game-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, grabbed eight rebounds, had two blocks and a steal. Michigan transfer Cameron Williams also shot 70 percent for 17 points and had 10 rebounds.

“We knew we had the size advantage from the jump, knew that from the scout,” Marshall said. “We focused on ways we could get high percentage shots and that’s why you see the higher percentages from the two of us.”

Marshall added that the loss to Vandy was “fuel” for the Hurricanes on Sunday.

“Vanderbilt is a good team, but I feel like we didn’t show our best effort,” Marshall said. “After watching film and working on things we needed to get better at, I think we showed improvement in the second half of this game.”

The Cavinder twins played key roles, as they have all season. Haley Cavinder scored 13 points, had seven rebounds and five assists. Hanna Cavinder added seven points, five assists and two rebounds.

Guard Jasmyne Roberts led UM with six assists and contributed eight points, five rebounds and four steals.

“I got on the team at halftime because I thought we were playing lackadaisical against a team that was hungry,” Cullop said. “Our defense picked up in the second half, we were able to force some turnovers into easy layups. Our team rose to the occasion in the second half and acted like the team I wanted them to be.”

Cullop blamed some of the early listlessness on final exams.

“I’m sure there was some lack of sleep heading into this game,” she said. “Sometimes you forget when you’re coaching that [players] have another life. These kids do care about their grades and some of them are in master’s level classes, and that’s not easy.”

Williams said the Hurricanes are playing with a chip on their shoulders.

“We have a lot to prove to the country,” she said. “They don’t really expect anything from us, but we know the talent we have and we’re ready to execute and shock the world, so we’re hungry.”

The game was a homecoming for three Bethune-Cookman players: senior center Kayla Clark of Miami Central High, freshman guard Janessa Kelley of Pompano Beach Blanche Ely, and freshman center Mya Johnson of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Clark had 11 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Kelley scored six points. Johnson chipped in two points and two rebounds for the Wildcats (2-6)..

The Hurricanes are off this week and open their ACC schedule at Pittsburgh Dec. 15 before heading to the Maui Classic in Hawaii, where they will play Nevada Dec. 20 and Oregon State Dec. 21. Their next home game is Dec. 29 against the North Carolina Tar Heels, who are ranked No. 16 this week in the AP poll.