Orangewomen Lose at Harvard, 79-76
11/22/2002 8:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Junior guard Julie McBride's (Mechanicville, N.Y./Catholic Central) potential game-winning jumper with just less than six seconds remaining was blocked, preserving a 79-76 victory for Harvard at Lavietes Pavilion on Friday, November 22. The Orangewomen are now 0-2, while the Crimson improved to 1-0.
The Orangewomen trailed, 77-76, with time winding down. McBride took a dribble inside the three-point line at the top of the key, but her jump shot was tipped and rebounded by Jessica Holsey. Holsey was then fouled and converted on one of her two free throw attempts. The Orangewomen could not get the ball inbounds, turning it over with three seconds remaining. Harvard's Hana Peljto made another free throw to set the final score.
Junior forward Shannon Perry (Providence, R.I./LaSalle) led the Orangewomen, recording her second consecutive double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. McBride had 18 points and eight assists for Syracuse, while junior April Jean (Sacramento, Calif./Coffeyville C.C.) had a career-best 15 points in her first career start. Sophomore Rochelle Coleman (Burtonsville, Md./Paint Branch) scored 11 points, marking the first time in her career that she has reached double figures in consecutive games.
Peljto led the Crimson with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Beverly Moore scored 14 points off the bench for Harvard, while Rochelle Bell and Reka Cserny tallied 13 and 10, respectively.
The Orangewomen outshot Harvard, 53.2 percent to 40.9 percent, however, the Crimson made 10 three-pointers to SU's seven. The Crimson held the advantage on the glass, 39-34, including 18 rebounds on the offensive end.
Harvard jumped out to an early 10-3 lead in the first five minutes of the contest. SU tied the game at 16-16 and then took their first lead of the season on a lay-in by McBride. A Harvard three-pointer put the Crimson back on top, but SU came back with another layup by Jean to take a 20-19 lead. Syracuse led by as many as seven in the first half and took a 37-34 lead into intermission.
The Orangewomen continued to roll after halftime going on a 9-2 run to take a 46-36 advantage with 15:53 left in the game. The Crimson fought right back with a 23-11 run to take a 59-57 lead with 8:58 left. McBride hit a three to give SU a one-point lead, but a Harvard lay-up gave the Crimson a 61-60 lead they would hold until the 4:40 mark. Syracuse's last lead came at the 1:03 mark when Perry's jumper made the score 75-74. It was SU's last field goal of the game as the Orangewomen were outscored 5-1 in the final 1:03.
Sophomore guard Krystalyn Ellerbe (Clinton, Md./Tallahassee C.C.) played 18 minutes, including the final 10 minutes of the contest. She finished with a career-high five points, three assists and a steal.
The Orangewomen return to Manley Field House for their home-opener on Tuesday, November 26 versus eighth-ranked Vanderbilt. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
