Thursday, December 29
Ithaca, N.Y.
1:00 p.m.
Syracuse University
70
at
69
Cornell
Jenny Eckhart hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 21 seconds left against Cornell.
Eckhart's Three Sinks Cornell
12/29/2005 2:40:01 PM | Women's Basketball
ITHACA, N.Y. - Freshman Jenny Eckhart (Libertyville, Ill.) buried a 3-pointer from the deep right corner with 21 seconds left to lift Syracuse (7-5) to a 70-69 victory against Cornell (3-7) on Thursday, Dec. 29 at Newman Arena.
After an SU timeout with 28 seconds left on the clock, Orange junior Tracy Harbut (Lexington, Ky.) drove the lane, drew the Cornell defense, and kicked the ball out to Eckhart for the game-winning basket. The Big Red had a chance to win the game, but Jeomi Maduka’s layup with four seconds left was off the mark and rebound squirted out to midcourt as the final horn sounded.
Eckhart finished with 13 points and was one of four SU players in double figures. Harbut tallied 16 points to pace the Orange. Harbut also contributed six rebounds, four assists and a career-best six steals. Sophomore Vaida Sipaviciute (Kaunas, Lithuania) netted 15 points and pulled down eight rebounds, while redshirt freshman Sara Antolick (Bethlehem, Pa.) scored 10 points off the bench.
With Cornell in front, 64-59, and 3:58 left in regulation, the Orange scored six of the game’s next eight points to pull within one, 66-65, at the 2:16 mark. A three-point play by Maduka increased the Big Red’s margin to 69-65 with 1:55 remaining. A Harbut on basket on SU’s next possession made the score 69-67. SU forced a turnover on the next Big Red trip down court, but could not convert on the opportunity. The Orange defense rose to the challenge again with 45 seconds left, forcing a turnover by Cornell’s Gretchen Gregg. On the ensuing possession, Antolick’s shot was blocked out of bounds and SU head coach Keith Cieplicki called timeout to set up the winning play.
Syracuse trailed, 13-7, six minutes into the game, but reeled off seven straight points to claim a 14-13 edge at the 12:34 mark of the first half. Consecutive buckets by Maduka and Lindsay Krasna put the Big Red ahead, 17-14. The Orange responded with a 20-2 run to take a 34-19 advantage with 4:36 to go in the period. Junior Ashley McMillen (Penfield, N.Y.) netted six of her nine points in the scoring spurt and Harbut had eight points in the stretch. The Big Red outscored SU, 11-4, in the final 4:36 of the half to slice the Orange lead to 38-30 at the intermission.
With 11:02 remaining in the contest and the Orange up seven, 50-43, Cornell used a 19-9 run to set the stage for the final five minutes.
Freshman Brittany Smith (Milwaukee, Wisc.) made her first career start in the game and scored seven points and matched her career best with nine rebounds.
Gregg and Maduka each posted double-doubles for Cornell. Maduka finished with 15 points and 11 boards, while Gregg netted 13 points and pulled down 10 caroms. Krasna led the way for the Big Red with a game-high 20 points.
Cornell hit 10 3-point field goals in the contest and won the battle of the boards, 43-38. After turning the ball over a season-high 23 times versus Quinnipiac, the Orange had just 11 miscues against Cornell. SU’s defense forced 21 Cornell turnovers, which led to 28 points.
SU will begin the remainder of its BIG EAST schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 3 when conference newcomer Louisville invades the Carrier Dome for a 7:00 p.m. showdown.
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