Well. 9 Miami completed one of the greatest comebacks in women’s NCAA Tournament history with a 62-61 victory over No. 8 Oklahoma State at the Greenville 2 on Saturday as the Cowgirls left the game-winning shot at the buzzer.
Oklahoma State trailed by five points with less than a minute left and had a chance to win with five seconds left on a seemingly quick five-second call against Miami as the Hurricanes tried to inbound the ball. Oklahoma State’s Naomie Alnatas drove into the lane as time expired, but her shot off the glass bounced off the rim.
Miami outscored Oklahoma State by 13 points in the third quarter after trailing 37-20 at halftime. The Hurricanes scored 20 points in the third quarter and held Oklahoma State to seven to cut the lead to 44-40 heading into the fourth quarter. Miami then took the lead on Destiny Harden’s jumper with just under nine minutes remaining and never trailed the rest of the way.
Miami’s 17-point comeback is the fifth-largest comeback in NCAA Women’s Tournament history. Oklahoma State controlled the first half, but went cold in the second half. The Cowgirls shot less than 40% from the field and were just 14-of-35 from inside the three-point line.
Still, they still had a chance to win the game after Anna Gret Asi hit a corner 3 with five seconds left to cut Miami’s lead to one. Miami got the ball at midcourt after the overtime and didn’t get much of a chance during the five-second call. The sideline referee blew the whistle that the ball was in play before the ball was in Miami’s hands for the inbounds.
The last two minutes of the match were also amazing. Officials visited the site for re-checks at least five times.
Haley Cavinder led Miami with 16 points, and her free throw with eight seconds left to give Miami a four-point lead was the margin of victory. The Hurricanes face Indiana on Monday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, while OSU finishes the season at 21-12.