UM women play Florida Gators for first time in 12 years Sunday at Watsco Center

Ja’Leah Williams has had Sunday circled on her calendar since the University of Miami women’s basketball schedule was announced. The Hurricanes are playing at home against the Florida Gators at 4 p.m., the first time the teams have faced each other in 12 years.

Williams, who grew up in Pompano Beach and went to Blanche Ely, played on the same AAU team as UF twins Taliyah and Tatyana Wyche, the Fort Lauderdale natives who went to American Heritage.

“It’s great to play the twins because they my old teammates and sisters for life,” Williams said. “I know both of them very well. It’s great because we both have family members coming to watch us go against each other. There’s always a lot of smack talking because we’re that close. I feel like it’s going to be a great environment for the game.”

Williams said she planned to text the twins Friday night, wish them safe travels, and tell them that any friendly chats from that moment forward will have to wait until after Sunday.

Williams is averaging 10.6 points for UM. Taliyah Wyche is averaging 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds for the Gators, and Tatyana 1.1 points and 3.3 rebounds.

UM coach Katie Meier is also familiar with the Wyche twins.

“The Wyche sisters are playing really well, look good on film,” she said. “They were off the board early, so we didn’t recruit them that hard.”

The Gators are 9-1, their best start since the 2015-16 season. They have won seven games in a row under 37-year-old coach Kelly Rae Finley, who is in her first season as head coach after being the interim coach last season and an assistant the four previous seasons.

The Hurricanes are 7-3 and also have twins on their roster —Haley and Hanna Cavinder, who have made an impact since transferring this season from Fresno State.

The last time Miami and Florida met was March 21, 2010, in the second round of the NIT. Miami won that game 77-64 in Coral Gables. Shenise Johnson, who is now a UM assistant coach, led the Canes that day with 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Meier is hoping for the same result on Sunday but expects a tough game.

“They have a lot of talent on their roster,” Meier said. “They have a lot of good one-on-one ability to score. Their guards are electric, and it’s going to take a real team effort to slow them down because they’ve got some great three-point shooters and nice downhill guards. And they have size. They can put 6-5 and 6-6 on the court at the same time.”

Miami will rely on leading scorer Destiny Harden, who averages 11.3 points and five rebounds. Another key player has been sophomore guard LaShae Dwyer, who came off the bench and went 8-of-11 for 20 points with eight steals against North Florida last Sunday.

Meier said Dwyer is becoming a team leader.

“Her voice is being heard more in practice,” Meier said. “I used to beg her to talk because when I’d do one-on-one film with her, I knew she understood. She is one of the most competitive people on the team, but you don’t know it because she’s not voicing it. I know Shae’s playing well when I hear her, and I’ve heard her a lot lately.”