Jones and Morrow Lead SU Charge Against UAA

Wednesday, November 26

Anchorage, Alaska

9 p.m.

Syracuse University

Alaska Anchorage

Sophomore guard Erica Morrow was named to the Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament Team.

11/26/2008 11:33:04 PM | Women's Basketball

Boxscore

ANCHORAGE, AK – In the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout, Syracuse suffered a 58-57 setback to the University of Alaska Anchorage Wednesday evening. Sophomore guard Erica Morrow and senior guard Chandrea Jones combined for 45 points and 23 rebounds. Both Morrow and Jones were named to the all-tournament team.

Junior guard Juanita Ward added six points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Jones recorded the first basket of the game less than 10 seconds into a half which started out slow for both teams. The Orange, however, was able to jump out and take the lead first, going up 17-8 by the 11:53 mark.

The lead did not last for long though as the Seawolves fought back to tie the game, 19-19, courtesy of three-pointers from Tamar Gruwell and Jackie Thiel. A layup from UAA's Rebecca Kielpinski gave the Seawolves their first lead of half, 21-19, with 6:49 left until the break.

Over the final six minutes, the Seawolves dominated possession despite two shot-clock violations. UAA limited the Orange to only seven points and headed to the locker room with a 28-26 advantage.

Syracuse made 10-of-33 (30.3 percent) field goals in the first half with Morrow and Jones contributing 10 points each. The Orange outrebounded the Seawolves, 24-20, with Jones leading the team with seven.

Despite UAA opening the second half with possession, SU's Jones would steal the ball and record a layup to tie the game, 28-28. Moments later, Jones would shoot another basket to give the Orange back the lead.

Jones continued to lead the Orange's second-half push with her third and fourth consecutive baskets. After grabbing a long pass from freshman Tyler Ash for a basket, Jones grabbed a rebound on the next Orange possession to put the Orange up, 34-31.

Syracuse wasn't able to hold onto the momentum it developed earlier as it quickly racked up seven fouls to UAA's one. UAA's success at the line put the Seawolves ahead, 40-37. With 9:33 left in the game and UAA holding a 45-41 advantage, Morrow was fouled and brought the Orange back within one after nailing three free throws.

The final minutes of the championship became a foul game as the teams returned several times to the foul line. A final push by the Orange in the waning seconds of the game would not be enough to derail the Seawolves as they would hold onto the ball as time ran out.

Syracuse outshot the Seawolves, 64-49, and outrebounded UAA, 45-35. The Orange also made 70.4 percent (19-27) of its free throws.

SU will be back in action after the Thanksgiving holiday. The Orange will host Longwood on Sunday, Nov. 30 in Manley Field House at 1 p.m.

SUSU