Syracuse University
Rutgers
Jaime James Scores 19 Points To Lead SU Past Rutgers, 68-51
2/6/2002 10:28:46 PM | Women's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior guard Jaime James (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) scored 19 points, including 17 in the second half to help the Syracuse women’s basketball team to a 68-51 win versus Rutgers on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at Manley Field House. Syracuse improved to 14-7 overall and 7-3 in the BIG EAST, while Rutgers is now 7-14 overall and 4-6 in the league.
James made five three-point shots to improve her career record to 203. James is one of only two Syracuse basketball players, men’s or women’s, with more than 200 career triples. The only other is current SU men’s basketball player Preston Shumpert.
The win was Syracuse’s first versus Rutgers since the 1990-91 season, snapping a 13-game losing streak, including a string of nine games in BIG EAST regular-season play. The victory also assured Syracuse its first winning regular season since the 1989-90 squad went 15-12 prior to the BIG EAST Tournament. The last team to enter postseason play at .500 or better was the 1995-96 team that went 13-13 in the regular season.
Freshman Rochelle Coleman (Burtonsville, Md./ Paint Branch) scored a career-high 10 points, including two three-pointers. Sophomore Shannon Perry (Providence R.I./LaSalle) added 16 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore point guard Julie McBride (Mechanicville, N.Y./Catholic Central) chipped in 13 points and game-high seven assists.
Syracuse trailed 32-30 at halftime after shooting just 36 percent from the floor and turning the ball over nine times. The Orangewomen took the lead for good early in the second half at 35-34, but broke open the game with a 15-0 run to increase the margin to 55-40 with 6:05 left in the contest. The Orangewomen led by as many as 23 points in the second half.
Davalyn Cunningham led the Scarlet Knights with 15 points. Mauri Horton also scored in double figures for Rutgers with 12. She also led the team with six rebounds.
Syracuse’s 14-7 start is the best since the 1987-88 team was 16-5 after 21 games. The Orangewomen’s 7-3 BIG EAST record is also the best since 1987-88 when the team was 8-2 after 10 league games.
The Orangewomen’s take to the road for a BIG EAST tilt with Providence on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. SU defeated the Friars, 81-52, earlier this season at Manley Field House.
