CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Miami Hurricanes coach Katie Meier said she watched video of four Quinnipiac Bobcats games late Saturday night until the wee hours of Sunday morning.
It wasn't enough.
The 12th-seeded Bobcats -- one of two double-digit seeds still alive in the women's NCAA tournament -- knocked off the fourth-seeded Hurricanes 85-78 on Monday night.
Quinnipiac (29-6) has advanced to its first Sweet 16, becoming the darling of the tournament in the process. The Bobcats are the lowest seed still alive, and they are the only mid-major remaining in the field.
The Bobcats had been 0-9 against ACC teams before knocking off the Hurricanes (24-9) and were 0-2 in the NCAA tournament before knocking off Marquette in the first round.
Quinnipiac was up against an experienced Miami program that had made the NCAA tournament six of the past seven years. Miami started three seniors and two juniors, and featured three 1,000-point career scorers: Adrienne Motley, Jessica Thomas and Keyona Hayes.
Not that Quinnipiac cared.
The Bobcats, starting four sophomores and one senior, took all that Miami had in the first quarter -- including a five-point possession, 50 percent shooting and 4-of-5 on 3-pointers.
Is that all you got?
How the game was won: The Bobcats took the lead late in the first quarter and never gave it back. They won the game with shot selection, making layups and 3-pointers and not bothering too much with midrange jumpers that offered lesser rewards or higher risks than the other shots they were getting against Miami's bewildered defense.
Player of the game: Morgan Manz came off the bench to score 22 points, making 6-of-8 3-pointers. Manz's shooting overshadowed a tough-minded performance by Thomas. The Miami guard scored 25 points -- one more than her previous career high.
Turning point: After Miami cut the deficit to one point, Quinnipiac's Adily Martucci hit a 3-pointer from the right corner with 57 seconds left to put the Bobcats up 78-74.
Stat of the game: The Bobcats made 15-of-26 3-pointers.
X factor: The Bobcats established their game in the first half, making 9-of-16 3-pointers and burning the Hurricanes' press. The Bobcats can handle the ball, and the press merely led to open shots, especially from deep. And they made more than they missed.
What's next: The Bobcats advance to Stockton, California, where they will play a Sweet 16 game against No. 1 seed South Carolina (29-4), which defeated Arizona State 71-68 on Sunday. South Carolina is battling injuries, while Quinnipiac is feeling good.