Orange Open San Juan Shootout with 77-70 victory against Loyola

Tuesday, December 19

San Juan, Puerto Rico

6 p.m.

Syracuse University

Loyola (San Juan Shootout)

Cintia Johnson scored a career-best 14 points against the Ramblers.

Orange Open San Juan Shootout with 77-70 victory against Loyola

12/19/2006 8:10:24 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

San Juan, Puerto Rico – Nicole Michael continued her impressive rookie season, leading the Orange to a 77-70 victory against Loyola (Chicago) in the first game of the San Juan Shootout. Michael scored 21 points and pulled down nine rebounds as Syracuse improved to 6-5 on the season.

Junior Fantasia Goodwin connected on eight-of-nine field goals, scoring 15 points. Classmate Vaida Sipaviciute recorded 15 points and sophomore point guard Cintia Johnson added a career-best 14 points.

The Orange started the game strong, gaining an early double-digit lead. After Loyola scored a 3-point basket to claim its only advantage of the evening, Syracuse rallied off an 11-2 run. Leading 17-13, the Orange scored the next nine points to stretch its lead to a game-high 13 at 26-13.

The Ramblers (1-8) fought back and eventually knotted the game at 33. However, the Orange ended the half on a 10-3 run and headed into intermission with a 43-36 advantage. Syracuse shot 56.5 percent (13-23) in the first half while holding Loyola to 40.5 percent (15-37) shooting. Michael led SU with 12 first-half points while Goodwin and Sipaviciute added 11 and nine points, respectively.

Loyola opened the second half strong an cut SU’s lead to two points at 47-45 only to see the Orange respond with a 8-2 run and expand its lead to eight points. After the Ramblers cut the lead to three points at 73-70, the Orange scored the final four points of the contest en route to the seven-point victory.

Syracuse made 53.2 percent (25-47) of its field goals. The Orange also hit a cryptic amount of free throws, connecting on a season-best 24 (of 33). The Ramblers hit 44.4 percent (28-63) of its shots.

The Orange looks to continue its winning ways at the San Juan Shootout tomorrow, squaring off against TCU at 9 p.m.