Make That A Dozen: Orange Handles Cardinals In BIG EAST Opener

Saturday, January 5

Carrier Dome

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

rv/rv Louisville

Chandrea Jones led the Orange with 20 points and has scored in double-figures 13-out-of-14 games this season.

Make That A Dozen: Orange Handles Cardinals In BIG EAST Opener

1/5/2008 8:21:23 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score
Head Coach Quentin Hillsman Quotes
Syracuse Student-Athlete Quotes

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange women’s basketball team increased its school-record winning streak to 12 games with a 79-56 victory against Louisville in the BIG EAST opener on Saturday in the Carrier Dome. RV/RV Syracuse had three student-athletes in double figures as it improved its record to a program-best 13-1. With the loss the RV/RV Cardinals go to 11-3.

Junior guard Chandrea Jones led Syracuse with 20 points, while sophomore forward Nicole Michael, who was 3-for-3 from three-point range, registered her fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman guard Erica Morrow used 5-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-6 from behind the three-point line to post a career-high 18 points.

Syracuse, which is 7-0 at home this season, shot 53.5 percent (23-43) from the floor, 52.9 percent (9-17) from three-point range and 75.0 percent (24-32) from the free-throw line. Head coach Quentin Hillsman’s defense limited Louisville junior forward Angel McCoughtry, who entered the game as the nations second leading scorer with 24.3 ppg, to only 10 points and forced her to miss eight of her 10 attempts from the floor.

As a team, Louisville shot 33.3 percent (22-66), 14.3 percent (3-12) from behind the arc and 50.0 percent (9-18) from the line.

Louisville controlled early, but a late first half surge by the Orange sent the game into intermission 28-26 in favor of Syracuse. The Cardinals opened the half with four straight, but a three-pointer by freshman guard Tasha Harris pulled the Orange within one at 17:53.

McCoughtry produced six consecutive hoops and a jumper by junior center Chauntise Wright after an Orange score by sophomore forward Vionca Murray gave Louisville its largest lead of nine points (20-11) at 8:04.

At 7:26, freshman guard Marisa Gobuty ignited the Orange faithful and a 16-2 run lasting 5:23. SU scored 11 consecutive points before UofL finally got back on the board at 4:53. Morrow contributed three three-pointers during the run.

Two free throws at 2:03 by Jones gave the Orange a 27-22, but the Cardinals used four points by freshman guard Deserre’ Byrd to pull within two entering the break.

In the first, Morrow paced the Orange with nine points, all coming from three-point land. The Orange shot 45.5 percent (10-22) from the floor in the first, including 45.5 percent (5-11) from behind the arc. The Cardinals were held to 38.5 percent (10-26) shooting and 16.7 percent (1-6).

SU came out of the locker room running, scoring five straight to increase its lead to 35-26 after a layup by Michael at 17:52.

UofL responded with four of its own, but the Orange went on a 17-3 run lasting 5:39. Jones contributed 10 points during the span. After Michael nailed a three-pointer as the shot clock hit zero, Jones made a falling down basket on the Orange’s next possession. The junior then drained a three-pointer her next time down the court. When the run came to an end at 9:49 Syracuse held a 52-33 advantage.

Four points by Byrd started to swing the momentum, but Louisville senior guard Patrika Barlow was called for an intentional foul and was given a technical. Morrow connected on three of the free throws and two trays by Michael put the Orange ahead 61-37 and brought the Carrier Dome crowd to its feet.

The Cardinals came within 16 (67-51) at 3:36 after a layup by junior forward Candyce Bingham, but the Orange offense was too much as it produced a 23-point gap to end the game, 79-56.

For the 13th game this season and 12th consecutive the Orange outrebounded its opponent. Michael’s 11 boards led the Orange, which pulled down 41 boards. Cardinals only grabbed 33.

Syracuse scored 24 points in the paint and had 13 fast-break points, while Louisville had 22 points in the lane and eight fast-break scores.

Bingham led Louisville with 19 points and McCoughtry and Byrd each produced 10.

The Orange returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 9 when it travels to Pittsburgh for a 7 p.m. start.