Orange Suffers 69-51 Setback to Villanova

Saturday, January 31

Carrier Dome

1 p.m.

Syracuse University

Villanova

Sophomore Marisa Gobuty posted seven points against the Wildcats.

1/31/2009 2:45:05 PM | Women's Basketball

Syracuse, 51, Villanova 69 |
Quentin Hillsman Postgame |
Players Postgame |

SYRACUSE – It was a tough day in the Carrier Dome as Syracuse (14-7, 3-5) suffered a 69-51 setback to BIG EAST foe Villanova (13-8, 5-2). A 21-7 Wildcat run lasting much of the second half secured the victory for Villanova. Junior Juanita Ward led the Orange with 15 points, including going 6-for-7 from the field and 3-for-4 from the line.

Other top performers for SU include senior Chandrea Jones and sophomore Marisa Gobuty who tallied 10 and seven points, respectively. Jones was the leading rebounder for Syracuse with six, while sophomore Tasha Harris registered five assists.

The Orange opened the second half with two points from free throws by junior forward Nicole Michael. After another Villanova basket, the Orange added five points to its total thanks to a layup from Michael and a 3-pointer from Jones to come within six, 43-37.

After a trip to the line by Michael at the 16:15 mark, Syracuse did not score another basket for almost the next 12 minutes. Minus a trip to the line by Jones at 7:08, it wasn't until 4:32 that Ward put home a layup. By then the damage was done as the Wildcats were up by 22, 65-43.

Jones, Ward and freshman Troya Berry scored the final points for the Orange as time wound down. Ward added four points, while Jones and Berry added two apiece.

The Wildcats, who shot 43.5 percent (10-23) in the second half, held the Orange to only 20.8 percent (5-24).

Villanova opened the game with an 11-0 start before the Orange finally got on the board with free throws from Gobuty. Syracuse finally got on a role at the 14:45 mark when a trifecta from Gobuty sparked a 12-3 Orange run that tied the game, 22-22. Wildcat Siobhan O'Connor tallied a 3-pointer on the next Villanova possession, but SU tied it up again, 25-25, after a three from senior Lina Lisnere.

The Orange managed to keep the game close for the next five minutes, but the Wildcats nailed three consecutive 3-pointers to maintain control of the game. Up by six, 34-28, both Jones and Murray sank charity buckets to bring the Orange within four with 3:09 to play.

The Wildcats held SU without a basket for the final three minutes of the half, but tallied eight points to secure a 42-30 halftime lead.

Wildcat Laura Kurz was the leading scorer for Villanova. She totaled 21 points after going 7-for-12 from the field, including a 6-for-9 performance from beyond the arc. O'Connor was the other top scorer with 12 points.

Syracuse is back in action at Louisville on February 3. Action begins at 7 p.m. The Orange is back in action at the Dome on February 8 when it meets the South Florida Bulls in a 4 p.m. matchup.