Syracuse University
Notre Dame
Orangewomen Hoops Team Loses to Notre Dame, 64-35
1/21/2004 8:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse women's basketball team lost to Notre Dame, 64-35, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Manley Field House. The Orangewomen stand at 6-9 overall and 3-2 in the BIG EAST, while the Fighting Irish improve to 10-7 overall and 3-2 in league play.
Junior Chineze Nwagbo scored a game-high 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting, and extended her double-digit scoring streak to a career-best six games. She also had a team-high six rebounds. Senior Julie McBride recorded eight points and five assists. Junior Rochelle Coleman had six points and five rebounds.
The Orange suffered through their worst shooting performance of the season. SU made just 23.1 percent (12-of-52) of its shots from the floor and 16.7 percent (4-of-24) of its attempts from three-point range. At the other end of the court, Notre Dame made 46.4 percent (26-of-56) of its field goal attempts.
"Notre Dame played well. Obviously they came on in the second half," said SU coach Keith Cieplicki. "We just didn't make shots. Overall, I think there is some positives we can take out of this and move on to West Virginia."
Junior Jacqueline Batteast led the Fighting Irish with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Courtney LaVere netted 10 points off the bench, and senior Jeneka Joyce added eight points and three assists. Senior Le'Tania Severe had six points, six rebounds and five assists, and sophomore Megan Duffy posted five points, five boards and five helpers. Freshman Crystal Erwin added seven points, and junior Katy Flecky recorded six points and five caroms.
The Irish went up 6-0 less than 2:30 into the game, but the Orangewomen came back to knot the score at 8-8 on two three-pointers by Coleman and a layup by Nwagbo. Notre Dame came back on a 10-0 run to build an 18-8 advantage with 6:26 left on the clock. Batteast had 10 of her 12 points in the first 20 minutes as she led Notre Dame to a 28-16 halftime advantage.
The Fighting Irish built their lead to 17, 38-21, less than four minutes out of the locke rroom. The advantage was 20, 45-25, with 11 minutes on the clock, and Notre Dame led by 26, 56-30, with four minutes left. The Irish scored six points during the final 2:30 to earn the 64-35 victory.
Syracuse hosts West Virginia in a BIG EAST tilt on Saturday, Jan. 24 in Manley Field House at noon.
