Syracuse University
Ohio University
Orange 8-0 for First Time in 31 Years
12/6/2009 4:54:43 PM | Women's Basketball
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio – The rv/rv Syracuse women's basketball team is off to its best start in 31 years after its 70-54 defeat of Ohio on Sunday afternoon. With the win, both the Orange men and women are 8-0 for the first time in school history. The women were also 8-0 in 1978-79 and 10-0 in 1974-75.
“I'm so proud of our kids,” said head coach Quentin Hillsman. “One of our goals was to get to the best start in school history, and we got it. We set up team goals, and we're very happy with the win and we just want to keep winning and keep playing hard.”
The Orange finished with an even spread of points with four players scoring in double-digits, including junior guard Erica Morrow, who had a team-high 14 points. Freshman center Kayla Alexander added 13 points, while senior forwards Juanita Ward and Nicole Michael pitched in 11 and 10, respectively. Michael and freshman guard Carmen Tyson-Thomas grounded the SU defense with a team-leading six rebounds each.
Syracuse shot 56.3 percent from the floor in the first half, while holding the Bobcats to just 34.5 percent shooting. Ohio kept the game close, knotting it up on three separate occasions, but the Orange pulled away after the final 10-10 tie with 12:24 remaining in the half. SU built its lead to 11 with a jumper by Alexander at the 8:20 mark and never looked back. The Orange held a comfortable 40-26 lead heading into the break.
Syracuse's offense hit a rhythmic stride in the second half, taking advantage of an 11-0 run en route to a commanding 51-26 lead coming out of the locker room. It wasn't until the 16:14 mark that Ohio was able to stop the scoring drought, but that didn't stop the Orange from maintaining control, reaching its highest lead of the game, 55-28, with 15:25 left. The Bobcats cut the deficit to 16 before settling with a 70-54 final.
Ohio was led by Jenny Poff, who had 25 points and four rebounds.
The Orange will welcome Dartmouth to the Carrier Dome on Sunday, December 13 at 6 p.m.
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