Three 20-Point Performances Propel Orange Past Canisius, 91-73

Sunday, December 4

Buffalo, N.Y.

4:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Canisius

Jenny Eckhart scored a career-high 23 points in the win against Canisius.

Three 20-Point Performances Propel Orange Past Canisius, 91-73

12/4/2005 7:27:36 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Freshman Jenny Eckhart (Libertyville, Ill.) scored a career-high 23 points to lead SU to a 91-73 win against Canisius today, Dec. 4, at the Koessler Athletic Center. Junior Tracy Harbut (Lexington, Ky.) also established a career high in points with 21, while sophomore Vaida Sipaviciute (Kaunas, Lithuania) registered 22. The win was head coach Keith Cieplicki’s 150^th of his career.

Eckhart went 6-for-11 from the floor while going 4-for-9 from behind the arc, which ties her personal best. She also went 7-for-11 from the charity stripe to set new career highs in both categories. Harbut added 10 rebounds to record her third double-double of the season. Her six assists tied her season high and was one short of matching her career best. Sipaviciute tallied her fourth double-double of the year, hauling in 12 boards while blocking six shots.

Redshirt freshman Sara Antolick (Bethlehem, Pa.) saw her first action of the season, contributing 10 points and nine boards in 20 minutes of play.

It marked the first time since January 23, 1984 that three student-athletes eclipsed the 20-point mark in a single game. SU last achieved the feat in a 70-58 triumph against Georgetown. Missy Renehan (28), Connie Stough (23) and Chris Palombi (20) each notched at least 20 points versus the Hoyas. SU's 91-point outburst is the second-consecutive game the Orange has totaled over 90 points. It is the first time that has happened in consecutive games since the 1995-96 season when SU defeated Coppin State (101-38) and Canisius (92-54) in the Carrier Classic.

The Orange lived at the free throw line in the game, sinking 29-of-40 from the line. Both numbers are season bests for SU. The Orange grabbed 53 rebounds, which marks the second-straight game SU eclipsed the 50-rebound plateau.

With 11:55 left in the first half, SU trailed the Golden Griffins, 14-8. Eckhart and Harbut sparked a 22-7 run for the Orange to give SU a 30-23 lead with 4:43 remaining. The pair scored 16 of the 22 points in that span. SU pushed its lead to 40-30 at the break.

Six minutes into the second stanza, Antolick connected on a lay up to extend SU’s advantage to 17 points, 54-37. Three minutes later, Eckhart drained one of her four 3-pointers to extend the Orange lead to 61-41. Sophomore Amanda Adamson (Littleton, Colo.) sank a jumper at the 8:43 mark to give SU its largest lead of the game, 71-47. Canisius did not let up, and put together a 20-2 run over the next four minutes to decrease the deficit to six, 73-67. Harbut responded with a jumper and Antolick notched another basket in the paint to push the lead back to 10. SU was clutch down the stretch from the foul line, making 14-of-18 attempts in the final 2:07, including its last six attempts to seal the win.

For the Golden Griffins (2-3), Becky Zak registered 20 points. Laura Granzow recorded a double-double with 14 points and 17 boards, while Megan Lyte did the same with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Abby Radunske contributed with 10 points of her own. Canisius shot 31.9 percent from the field on 29-of-91 shooting, while SU went 29-for-67, a 43.3 percent clip.

The Orange (4-2) opens its BIG EAST portion of the schedule when it travels to Pittsburgh on Thursday, Dec. 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center.