Jones' 33 Points Guide Orange to 89-75 Victory in Season Opener at Siena

Friday, November 14

Loudonville, N.Y.

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

Siena

Senior Chandrea Jones recorded a career-high 33 points and seven rebounds in the Orange victory.

Jones' 33 Points Guide Orange to 89-75 Victory in Season Opener at Siena

11/14/2008 9:05:17 PM | Women's Basketball

Boxscore

Loudonville, N.Y. – Syracuse opened its 2008-09 regular-season Friday night with an 89-75 victory against the Siena Saints at the UHY Court at the Arc. Senior guard Chandrea Jones and sophomore guard Erica Morrow led the Orange with 33 and 25 points, respectively. Jones' 33 points were a career-high for the senior, while Morrow's 25 points tied her career mark.

Junior forward Juanita Ward led the Orange defensively tallying 14 rebounds, with eight on the defensive end. Junior Vionca Murray added nine points, while sophomore Tasha Harris contributed eight points.

Morrow opened the 2008-09 campaign with the first basket of the game. The Orange would take an early 9-5 lead, but at the first timeout the score was tied, 12-12, thanks to a jumper from Siena’s Allie Lindemann.

From there, the Saints took a 29-22 lead with 6:45 left in the half. Morrow connected on two free throws as the Orange chipped away at the Siena lead. Three-consecutive defensive rebounds by Murray would help keep the Saints from adding to their lead.

Following a timeout with less than four minutes to go and the ball in Siena possession, Jones blocked a pass at midcourt and was fouled. She nailed both free throws to tie the game, 31-31 with 2:17 left. Another blocked pass later and a lay-up by Ward gave the Orange a slim 33-31 advantage.

SU went to the locker room leading 36-34, shooting 41 percent inside (12-29) and making 83 percent of its free throws (10-12).

Jones opened up the second half with back-to-back lay-ups to put the Orange up, 40-34. Despite two missed fast-break opportunities, Syracuse increased its lead to 11 (49-38) courtesy of six points from Morrow and a three pointer from Jones at the 16:57 mark.

The Orange continued to hold the lead with 10 minutes left in the game, 62-52. However, the Saints began chipping away at SU’s lead with freshman guard Brittany Wilwohl adding four of Siena’s next 11 points to bring them within four, 67-63.

The push by the Saints wouldn’t be enough to derail the Orange as it continued to add on points and maintain control of the score for the remainder of the game. With 1:29 left to play, the Orange had a 13-point advantage.

SU outscored the Saints in the paint, 36-10, and registered 10 fast break points, while Siena had zero.

Siena’s leading scorers included Lindemann (20), Wilwohl (19) and Serena Moore (13). Heather Stec was the Saints’ leading rebounder with 10 total.

The Orange is back in action at Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md. on Sunday, Nov. 16. Action is set to begin at 3 p.m. It will be the UMES Lady Hawks’ regular-season opener after having defeated Elizabeth City State, 97-73, on Nov. 11 in exhibition.