UM women beat Stetson 78-53 in Coach Tricia Cullop’s debut, Cavinder twins’ return

The Tricia Cullop era officially began Monday morning as the University of Miami women’s basketball team cruised past Stetson 78-53 in front of a louder and younger crowd than usual. The Watsco Center audience of 5,300 included 4,500 shrieking, pom-pom waving school kids as part of UM Education Day.

Cullop, the former University of Toledo coach, was hired last spring to replace Katie Meier, who retired after 19 years with the Hurricanes.

“My mom was a schoolteacher, and it was so great to see all those kids in the stands that may not get the chance to come to another game,” Cullop said. “We brought in kids from the community and hope we can get them excited about Hurricane athletics, and hopefully, they want to come back. Who knows, may someday we’ll coach one of them.”

Only three UM players return this season from last year’s roster: Jasmyne Roberts, Lemyah Hylton and Aurora Almon. Hylton’s season was cut short after knee surgery in February and Almon was redshirted to recover from knee surgery.

The storyline that got the most attention heading into the season was the return of twins Haley and Hanna Cavinder, who came back to UM after a one-year hiatus from basketball following the Hurricanes’ 2023 Elite Eight run.

The twins were in the starting lineup Monday, along with freshman guard Ahnay Adams, Notre Dame transfer forward Natalija Marshall, and Michigan transfer forward Cameron Williams, who began her Miami career with a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds).

Roberts, who missed some practice last week with a minor injury, came off the bench and was UM’s leading scorer with 16 points. She also grabbed six rebounds.

Haley Cavinder had 12 points and eight rebounds. Marshall was the game’s leading rebounder with 12. Adams added 10 points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes in her college debut. Hanna Cavinder chipped in nine points and a team-high five assists.

Miami dominated in the paint, outrebounding Stetson 58-36, but turned the ball over 19 times.

The Hurricanes got off to a slow start. They trailed the Hatters 16-13 after the first quarter after turning the ball over seven times and shooting 27 percent from the field and 17 percent (1-of-6) from three-point range.

“I think we were stressing too much about trying to play perfect instead of just playing,” Cullop said of the early-game struggles. “We have a lot of new players that are learning how to play together. We’re developing chemistry, and that takes time.”

They finally settled into a rhythm and dominated the second quarter, outscoring Stetson 19-9 and taking a 32-25 lead into halftime.

Miami stretched the lead as the game wore on and never looked back.

“We did have kind of a slow start, but we’re still learning each other, but once it all clicks, we’re going to be really, really good,” Roberts said. “We just have to go through growing pains, trial and error.”

Cullop was encouraged by what she saw from freshmen Adams and Leah Harmon.

“I love the energy they bring,” she said. “Ahnay’s energy since she set foot on campus has been phenomenal. She’s an energy giver and a pleaser. She’s trying to run through the wall to give us everything she has. I love her speed, and she’s so unselfish, setting screens, getting people open, doing little things.

“Leah can shoot the three, drive, hit pullups. I’m excited about what both bring.”

Williams, a 6-3 grad student whose father Aaron played in the NBA, enjoyed her first game in Miami.

“I was excited to play in a new uniform for a new program,” she said. “It was a great atmosphere. This is the kind of environment we want to establish all year.”

UM’s next game is Monday at 7 p.m. at home against Jacksonville.