Women’s Miami basketball hosts FGCU to begin NCAA Tournament

The Miami basketball team opens play in the Women’s NCAA Tournament on Friday night by hosting Florida Gulf Coast. The winner will take on the winner of Arizona State and Central Florida on Sunday.

The Miami basketball women’s team enters the NCAA Tournament as the fourth seed in the Portland Region beginning play against Florida Gulf Coast who is the 13th seed. Arizona State is the fifth seed playing 12th seeded Central Florida.

Miami finished the regular season as the nation’s 19th and 15th ranked team in the two major polls. The Hurricanes lost to Syracuse in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament after defeating the Orange at the Carrier Dome during the regular season. That loss dropped Miami to 24-8.

The loss to Syracuse likely dropped Miami down a spot on the seed line. The Orange are the third seed in the Portland region. It might be a blessing in disguise. If the seeds hold up out west, Syracuse would play Oregon in the Regional Semifinals at the Moda Center. Miami would face top-seeded Mississippi State.

The Hurricanes have to take care of business at home before they can begin to think about playing out west next week. In 2017 Miami was also the fourth seed and lost in the second round at home in the second round to 12th seed Quinnipiac. The Bobcats additionally defeated Miami in the first round last year.

The Miami basketball women’s team defeated Florida Gulf Coast in the first round in 2017 before losing to Quinnipiac. The Hurricanes barely survived against the Eagles with a 62-60 victory at the Watsco Center.

Miami needed a Keyona Hayes basket with 1.5 seconds remaining to secure the victory. Hof scored 14 in the 2017 game, but Miami shot just 1-14 on three-point attempts.