Courtesy of Miami Athletics:
The No. 2 seeded University of Miami, dropped to the third seeded Wisconsin Badgers, 72-65, in round two of the Women’s Basketball Invite Tournament (WBIT), Sunday afternoon at Watsco Center.
Miami closes out the 2025-26 season at 18–15 (8-10 ACC), and Wisconsin improves to 15–17 (5-13 BIG TEN).
As a team, Miami shot 52.6 percent from the field and placed two players in double figures. Gal Raviv led Miami’s offensive effort, posting 20 points and Ra Shaya Kyle led Miami on the boards, securing 12 of Miami’s 38 rebounds.
The Canes got off to a slow start, shooting 22.2 percent (2-of-9) from the field and scoring just five points in the first six minutes of play. Wisconsin took advantage, using a 7-0 run to build a lead as large as 11 points. By the end of the first quarter, Miami trailed 17-6.
Both teams remained scoreless through the first two minutes of the second quarter. Miami’s first points since the 3:31 mark of the opening period came at the free-throw line from Amarachi Kimpson. From there, the scoring column remained open, with the Hurricanes and Badgers trading baskets. Although Miami more than doubled its point total in the second quarter, Wisconsin held onto the advantage with a 23-15 at halftime.
At the end of the first half Miami was shooting a season low 16.7 percent (5-of-30), from the field and was outrebounded 27-23 by the Badgers. Both teams were forced to 10 turnovers and snagged five steals in half one. Kimpson led UM’s offense with seven points with Raviv next in line with four.
Miami’s Natalie Wetzel hit the first basket of the second half with a jumper from inside. The Badgers immediately retaliated with a three ball and two trips to the charity stripe to stretch the lead back to 11. The Badgers remained hot from beyond the arc, knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers to build their largest lead of the game thus far at 38-25. Wisconsin continued to pull away for the rest of the third quarter, extending the margin to 15 and taking a 52-37 lead into the final period.
The fourth and final quarter unfolded similarly to the first three with Miami and Wisconsin going back and forth on the front court. However, after the five-minute mark the Canes began to finally cut into the Badger’s lead with three pointers from Raviv, Wetzel, Ahnay Adams, and Vittoria Blasigh. UM brought the margin down to as little as two (67-65), with less than a minute on the clock. Despite Miami’s deep comeback effort, Wisconsin kept its composure to solidify the 72-65 win.
The Hurricanes’ 72-65 loss to Wisconsin in the second round of the WBIT brought Miami’s 2025-26 season to a close, marking the end of Coach Cullop’s second year at the helm.
The No. 2 seeded University of Miami, dropped to the third seeded Wisconsin Badgers, 72-65, in round two of the Women’s Basketball Invite Tournament (WBIT), Sunday afternoon at Watsco Center.
Miami closes out the 2025-26 season at 18–15 (8-10 ACC), and Wisconsin improves to 15–17 (5-13 BIG TEN).
As a team, Miami shot 52.6 percent from the field and placed two players in double figures. Gal Raviv led Miami’s offensive effort, posting 20 points and Ra Shaya Kyle led Miami on the boards, securing 12 of Miami’s 38 rebounds.
The Canes got off to a slow start, shooting 22.2 percent (2-of-9) from the field and scoring just five points in the first six minutes of play. Wisconsin took advantage, using a 7-0 run to build a lead as large as 11 points. By the end of the first quarter, Miami trailed 17-6.
Both teams remained scoreless through the first two minutes of the second quarter. Miami’s first points since the 3:31 mark of the opening period came at the free-throw line from Amarachi Kimpson. From there, the scoring column remained open, with the Hurricanes and Badgers trading baskets. Although Miami more than doubled its point total in the second quarter, Wisconsin held onto the advantage with a 23-15 at halftime.
At the end of the first half Miami was shooting a season low 16.7 percent (5-of-30), from the field and was outrebounded 27-23 by the Badgers. Both teams were forced to 10 turnovers and snagged five steals in half one. Kimpson led UM’s offense with seven points with Raviv next in line with four.
Miami’s Natalie Wetzel hit the first basket of the second half with a jumper from inside. The Badgers immediately retaliated with a three ball and two trips to the charity stripe to stretch the lead back to 11. The Badgers remained hot from beyond the arc, knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers to build their largest lead of the game thus far at 38-25. Wisconsin continued to pull away for the rest of the third quarter, extending the margin to 15 and taking a 52-37 lead into the final period.
The fourth and final quarter unfolded similarly to the first three with Miami and Wisconsin going back and forth on the front court. However, after the five-minute mark the Canes began to finally cut into the Badger’s lead with three pointers from Raviv, Wetzel, Ahnay Adams, and Vittoria Blasigh. UM brought the margin down to as little as two (67-65), with less than a minute on the clock. Despite Miami’s deep comeback effort, Wisconsin kept its composure to solidify the 72-65 win.
The Hurricanes’ 72-65 loss to Wisconsin in the second round of the WBIT brought Miami’s 2025-26 season to a close, marking the end of Coach Cullop’s second year at the helm.
