Hines-Allen helps No. 4 Louisville beat Miami 68-55

Posted January 24, 2015 10:00 pm

By JOSH ABNER

Louisville's Myisha Hines-Allen, right, attempts a layup past the defense of Miami's Erykah Davenport during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Looking for more consistency from Myisha Hines-Allen, Louisville coach Jeff Walz benched the freshman forward in hopes of motivating her.

The tactic certainly worked.

Hines-Allen scored a career-high 23 points, making 10 of her 11 shots, to help the No. 4 Cardinals rally to beat Miami 68-55 on Sunday night.

"I think she was really mad that she wasn't starting," Walz said. "Which was part of why I did it. I wanted to see what kind of fight she had."

After scoring just four points in Thursday's 68-63 loss at No. 17 Florida State, Hines-Allen picked up her play as Louisville erased a 29-16 first-half deficit.

"It just made me push harder, but I have to play like that every single game," Hines-Allen said.

Louisville (18-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) held Miami to a single field goal in the first 10 1/2 minutes of the second half and built a 56-39 with 5:38 to play.

The Cardinals fell behind early for the second straight game, but completed the comeback after failing to score a field goal in the final six minutes of the FSU loss.

Bria Smith added 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Adrienne Motley led Miami (15-4, 5-1) with 18 points. The Hurricanes cut Louisville's lead to 60-53 with 3:07 to play but the Cardinals scored eight straight to cement the win.

Hines-Allen, Louisville's second leading scorer, came off the bench for just the second time this season and added eight rebounds. Shawnta' Dyer started in place of Hines-Allen and scored 10 points and had eight rebounds.

Miami scored nine straight after leading 18-14, capped by Michelle Woods layup that drew a foul with 6:04 left in the half. Walz drew a technical foul after the play but Miami failed to capitalize, missing all three ensuing free throws.

The sequence appeared to enliven the Cardinals, holding Miami scoreless for nearly three minutes while scoring 11 straight to cut the lead to 29-27.

"We were getting whooped by Miami and (Coach Walz) had our back," Dyer said.

Miami led 31-27 at halftime but watched Louisville score the first nine points of the second half in building a 47-34 lead.

"Louisville got tougher," Miami coach Katie Meier said. "We had just taken them out of their game and they just woke up."

Don't be surprised if Hines-Allen is sitting again when No. 23 Syracuse visits Thursday.

"I wanted her to show me, 'Hey, you're wrong,' Unfortunately she showed me too well, so she won't start again on Thursday," Walz said.

TIP-INS

Louisville: Walz now is now one victory short of 200. He is the winningest coach in school history and his record now stands at 199-72 (.734 winning percentage). . Louisville had 19 assists on 24 made baskets.

Miami: Adrienne Motley has scored 15 or more points in 15 of the Hurricanes' 20 games.

LOUISVILLE-MIAMI CONNECTION

Former Hurricane great and now Louisville wide receivers coach Lamar Thomas was in the crowd to watch his sister play against the Cardinals. Jessica Thomas, a sophomore guard, had eight points and four rebounds in the loss.

UP NEXT

Louisville: hosts No. 23 Syracuse on Thursday.

Miami: visits Pitt on Feb. 1.

Louisville's Arica Williams, left, battles Miami's Jassany Williams for a loose ball during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) The Associated Press

Louisville head coach Jeff Walz, right, argues with game official Edward Sidlasky during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) The Associated Press

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