Hokies Send Orange Home In Second Round of ACC Tournament

Thursday, March 1

Greensboro, N.C.

2 pm

Syracuse University

22-8 (10-6ACC)

Virginia Tech

18-12 (6-10ACC)

Virginia Tech

Syracuse

Hokies Send Orange Home In Second Round of ACC Tournament

3/1/2018 7:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. - GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Syracuse University women's basketball team lost to Virginia Tech, 85-70, on Thursday afternoon in the second round of the ACC Tournament. Virginia Tech's victory broke Syracuse's five-game winning streak, and knocked them out of the remainder of the tournament. The Orange now wait to see their NCAA Tournament fate which will be decided on Monday, March 12, at 7 pm during the NCAA Selection Show.

Virginia Tech's Taylor Emory scored a game-high 28 points, 11 of which were in the final quarter, while Tiana Mangakahia paced the Orange with 17 points and nine assists. The Hokies now even the all-time series 6-6 after Thursday's win.

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
After a tough loss to the Hokies in the regular season, Cuse returned to the court ready for revenge with Mangakahia putting the first points on the board within the first minute of play. The score volleyed back and forth between the Hokies and the Orange until Gabrielle Cooper hit a three at 5:05, tying the score 11-11. Strautmane turned the ball right back around 30 seconds later to give 'Cuse the lead. The Orange held on for the last four minutes, putting up an additional 10 points to end the first frame ahead 25-22.

Virginia Tech's Michelle Berry opened the second quarter scoring with a jumper at 9:28 making it a one-point game but the Orange answered with a trey from Strautmane to lead by four. Alexis Jean put in two for the Hokies at 9:01 but a 10-0 run by the Orange quickly saw Virginia Tech in a double-figure deficit with 'Cuse in front 36-26. Syracuse held on to lead by 14, 48-34, at halftime.

'Cuse took its biggest lead of the game, by 16, at 6:54 in the third when a layup by Strautmane gave the Orange a 55-39 lead. The Hokies wouldn't back down and cut the deficit to nine, 65-56, by the end of the frame when they closed out the final three minutes on a 6-2 run.

Heading into the last 10-minutes of play, the Orange clenched the lead until the Hokies swept back with 6:53 to go when Emory landed a jumper to take the lead 66-65. Virginia Tech continued to rally throughout the remaining time, only allowing five points by the Orange. Mangakahia and Drummond both put two free throws respectively on the board while Isis Young chipped in one. Virginia Tech outscored the Orange 29-5 in the final frame and held 'Cuse scoreless from the field (0-for-16) to win by 15, 85-70.

OF NOTE
Four members of the Syracuse squad scored in double figures. Mangakahia led the way with 17 points and nine assists while Strautmane added 16 points and six rebounds. Drummond and Young added 11 points.

Syracuse shot 52.6 percent from the field in the first quarter and knocked down 10 shots. The Orange shot 47.1 percent in the second quarter to tally a 50 percent shooting percentage in the first half.

'Cuse had just 11 turnovers while forcing 16 by the Hokies.

The Orange shot 84.6 percent (11-for-13) at the free throw line.

Q's THOUGHTS
"An amazing, amazing second half by Virginia Tech, I've got to give them all the credit.," said head coach Quentin Hillsman. He continued, "Kenny [Brooks] did a fantastic job of making adjustments in the second half. He went to a zone and kind of slowed us down a little bit. We didn't make shots, and we weren't able to get into our pressure. I've got to give them all the credit for having a great second half. Fourth quarter they shot 72 percent from the field. We shot zero percent; we don't make a shot. From three, they were 4-for-5 and we 0-for-10 and we don't make a shot. You can't win a game if you don't make a shot."

UP NEXT
With their run in the ACC Tournament officially over, Syracuse heads home to prepare for the remainder of the post-season and a hopeful tour in the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is set for Monday, March 12, at 7 pm.

For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /SyracuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram, and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
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