Orangewomen Open West Coast Swing with Loss at Cal
11/30/2002 1:53:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BERKELEY, Calif. – The Syracuse women's basketball team lost its fourth consecutive game, 57-53 at the University of California. The Orangewomen are now 0-4, while the Golden Bears are 1-1.
Junior Shannon Perry (Providence, R.I./LaSalle) led the Orangewomen with her third double-double in four games. Perry had a game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds. Junior April Jean (Sacramento, Calif./Coffeyville C.C.) recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and a career-best 10 rebounds. Junior Julie McBride (Mechanicville, N.Y./Catholic Central) added nine points and tied a career high with 10 assists.
Syracuse held the lead for most of the first half. The Orangewomen took a 3-2 lead on a basket by Perry, and stretched the advantage to 18-9 at the 8:21 mark of the period. The Golden Bears slowly fought their way back into the contest, ending the half on a 14-4 run to take a 23-22 lead into intermission.
The two teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the second half. With the Orangewomen ahead, 28-27, California's Kris Iwanaga hit a three-pointer to give the Bears a 30-28 lead that they would never relinquish. Cal extended the lead to nine points at 37-28, holding the Orangewomen scoreless for a span of 6:21.
Syracuse fought back to within two points on four occasions, but never could tie the score. Jean twice cut the Bears' lead to a basket with less than a minute remaining, but Iwanaga went 4-for-4 from the line in the last 20 seconds to ice the victory for California.
Iwanaga led the Bears with 20 points, including four three-pointers. Leigh Gregory also scored in double figures with 12 points.
The Orangewomen forced 22 turnovers, but committed 20 of their own. The Bears were able to score 16 points off SU turnovers, while the Orangewomen converted Cal miscues into 12 points. The rebounding edge went to California, 32-31. Both teams shot 42 percent from the floor.
Syracuse continues its California road trip on Sunday, December 1 with a game at the University of San Francisco. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. ET.
