Orangewomen Score Come-from-Behind Win at Vermont

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Sophomore guard Rochelle Coleman (Burtonsville, Md./Paint Branch) scored a career-high 25 points, including five three-pointers, to lead the Orangewomen basketball team to a 79-75 overtime victory at the University of Vermont on Wednesday, December 18. The Orangewomen have won three of their last four games to improve to 3-5 overall. Vermont is now 7-2.

Coleman's biggest shot of the game came with 1:44 remaining in overtime. She came off a screen at the top of the key and buried a three-pointer to give the Orangewomen a 74-73 lead. Syracuse never trailed again.

Five Syracuse players scored in double figures. In addition to Coleman's career night, junior guard Julie McBride (Mechanicville, N.Y./Catholic Central) scored 15 points, 11 in the first half. Junior forward April Jean (Sacramento, Calif./Coffeyville C.C.) hit for 11 points, while junior guard Shannon Perry (Providence, R.I./LaSalle) and freshman forward Tierra Jackson (Upper Marlboro, Md./Frederick Douglass) each had 10 points.

The Orangewomen trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half and 12 in the second half. In the first stanza, the Catamounts took a 25-11 lead with 10:37 left, but SU went on a 16-2 run during the next five minutes to knot the score at 27-27. McBride scored eight of her points during the run, including a pair of three-pointers. Senior center Awa Diop (Colombes, France/Western Nebraska C.C.) scored back-to-back baskets to tie her career high of four points. Vermont outscored the Orangewomen, 11-5, in the final five minutes to take a 38-32 lead into intermission.

The Catamounts jumped on SU in the second half, 60-48 with 8:42 left in regulation. Coleman took over for the Orangewomen scoring 10 points down the stretch as SU outscored Vermont 20-8 to end the second half.

Syracuse pulled off another comeback in the overtime session. Vermont's Theresa LaRocque hit a three-pointer with 2:38 left to push the Catamounts' lead to 73-69. After a jumper by Jackson, the Orangewomen held defensively, and Coleman hit the game-winning three pointer. Jean scored to push SU's lead to three, but the Catamounts came right back to bring the game within one at 76-75. The Orangewomen made 3-of-4 free throws in the final 35 seconds, including two by Coleman, to set the final margin.

All seven Orangewomen that played got in the scoring column. Freshman center Jill Norton (Marlton, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep) tied a career high with four points. Vermont's Aaron Yantzi led all scorers with 29 points.

The Orangewomen return home to face Binghamton at 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 21 at Manley Field House. It is the first of a three-game homestand. Syracuse will face Colorado on December 31 at 5 p.m. and Cornell on January 2 at 7 p.m.