Syracuse University
Maryland Eastern Shore
Great Eight: Orange Wins Eighth Straight With 86-56 Victory Against Maryland Eastern Shore
12/19/2007 5:58:18 PM | Women's Basketball
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SYRACUSE, N.Y – With five players in double-digits, the Orange women’s basketball team improved to 9-1 with an 85-56 win against Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday in the Carrier Dome. Senior forward Fantasia Goodwin posted the eighth double-double of her career and fifth of the season by posting a game-high 19 points and 13 rebounds.
Syracuse, which had nine student-athletes with at least one point, improved its winning streak to eight games. It is only the fourth time in the program's 36-year history that a team has won eight consecutive games. The 9-1 mark is the best since beginning with the same record in 1978-79.
The Orange, who has scored 70 or more points in four consecutive outings and six times this season, helped its cause by shooting 43.3 percent (26-60) from the floor, while holding Maryland Eastern Shore to only 31.3 percent (21-67). SU has shot above 40.0 percent in six straight games and is averaging 44.8 percent shooting during the winning streak.
Sophomore forward Nicole Michael posted 12 points and 12 boards for her 11th career double-double.
Junior Chandrea Jones had 18 points, eight rebounds and a game-high six assists. She has scored 10 or more point in nine-of-10 games this season.
Rounding out the group of Orange student-athletes in double-figures were sophomore Vionca Murray and freshman Erica Morrow with 11 points each – a career-high tying mark for Murray.
Senior center Vaida Sipaviciute, who had a team-high five blocks, tallied five points and senior forward Tracy Harbut and freshman guard Tasha Harris each had four.
The Orange, which is receiving votes in the AP poll, wasted no time as Michael laid in the games first hoop only six seconds into the game and sparked a 9-2 run to open the contest. In the first half the Orange used runs of 9-2, 10-1 and 9-3 to lead as many as 21.
The Orange shot 48.3 percent (14-29) in the first and for the opening 12 minutes limited the Lady Hawks to 8.7 percent (2-23) shooting. Maryland Eastern Shore improved its shooting to 20.0 percent (7-35) in the first, but Syracuse owned the glass by pulling down 35 rebounds. The Lady Hawks only grabbed 18.
After SU took a 44-25 lead into the break, the Lady Lions came within 17 points in the second and that was after freshman center Chena Parker made a lay-up in the opening minute of the second.
A three-point play by Goodwin at 5:43 gave the Orange its largest lead of 33 (81-48) and its second 80-plus point outing of the year.
Maryland Eastern Shore had two players in double-figures and sophomore guard led the way with 15 points. Sophomore forward April McBride posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards.
The Orange returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. when it hosts Saint Peters.
