WATCH: Miami’s Cavinder twins help squad win 89-30 against Palm Beach Atlantic in exhibition game
Twins Haley and Hanna Cavinder led five Miami players who scored in double figures as the Hurricanes trampled Palm Beach Atlantic 89-30 in an exhibition game on Sunday at the Watsco Center.
Haley Cavinder tallied 13 points and 10 rebounds while her twin sister Hanna Cavinder added 12 in a fine afternoon that saw Miami set the tone early. The Hurricanes dropped 24 straight points after allowing the Sailfish to score the first two points en route to a 24-2 lead.
Miami continued the assault in the second period, leading 45-11 at the half. The Hurricanes remained relentless in the second half, scoring 44 points and holding down the Sailfish to 19 for a big win.
Nine players scored for Miami in the second half, including nine from Hanna Cavinder. Graduate student Natalija Marshall and freshman Leah Harmon contributed 13 points each while graduate student Cameron Williams added 10.
The Hurricanes made life miserable for Palm Beach Atlantic throughout the clash, limiting the Sailfish to 25.0% shooting and recording 22 steals.
Miami undergoes changes in personnel for 2024-25 women's basketball season
The Miami Hurricanes underwent a series of personnel and player changes in the 2024-25 college basketball season, acquiring new coach Tricia Cullop to replace veteran bench tactician Katie Meier.
Cullop and her staff used the offseason to strengthen the team, acquiring players from the transfer portal and signing the 18th-best recruiting class in the nation.
Cullop, who has a 476-279 record in her 24-year career, believes the team would blend well despite a mix of returning players and new acquisitions from the transfer portal and high school recruitment.
“We haven’t been together very long. There’s a lot of new pieces on this team, a lot of new staff members, and I feel like we’re in a good place for coming together for the time we’ve had," Cullop said.
"I think we have a lot of improvement ahead of us, but I’m very excited about the talent that we have and helping them reach the potential that I think they are capable of,” she added.
Media who cover the ACC, however, seemingly didn't appreciate the offseason moves, ranking the Hurricanes eighth in the conference preseason poll weeks before the start of the new season. Miami was behind new ACC member Stanford, North Carolina, Florida State, Louisville, Duke, NC State and No. 1 Notre Dame.
Miami opens its regular season campaign with a nonconference game against Stetson on Nov. 4.
Will the Miami Hurricanes surpass their ninth-place finish in the ACC last season? Let us know your views in the comments section.