Syracuse University
Harvard University
Orange Routs Harvard, Makes Program History
3/18/2010 9:42:23 PM | Women's Basketball
Box Score | Coach Hillsman Quotes | Player Postgame Quotes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Orange women's basketball team (23-10) broke the school record for most wins a season since SU began competing in the NCAA in 1981-82 with its 87-68 victory versus Harvard (20-9) on Thursday evening in the Women's National Invitation Tournament at Manley Field House. The win was SU's second postseason victory in program history after it secured its first last season in the opening round of the WNIT against Canisius.
The SU freshmen were a force to be reckoned with as center Kayla Alexander continued her success off the SU bench, leading the team with 22 points, while guard Carmen Tyson-Thomas registered her second career double-double with a career-best 17 points and game-high 13 rebounds. Junior guard Erica Morrow pitched in 10 points to round out Syracuse's double-digit scorers.
Syracuse crushed the Crimson on the glass, 50-26, while forcing 10 turnovers to Harvard's four. The Orange also held the shooting advantage, 47.4 percent (27-57) to 36.9 percent (24-65). It shot 50.0 percent (2-4) from behind the arc, but Harvard finished with 30 more 3-point attempts than the Orange.
The Orange opened with a 5-0 lead and held off the Crimson until 18:20 when Victoria Lippert put Harvard on the board with a 3-pointer. Syracuse continued to hold the lead, despite Harvard bringing it within two, 12-10. The Orange did not falter as Alexander made a layup and accounted for six points in an 11-0 run to give the hosts its largest lead, 23-10, with 12:06 left. Alexander and fellow Tyson-Thomas teamed up for SU's next six points to keep the 29-14 advantage with less than nine minutes left till halftime.
The Crimson continued to struggle from the field, while Alexander began a 9-0 spurt to make the score 46-22 with 3:12 left. Syracuse dominated down the stretch, allowing eight points in the final 2:30, while Tyson-Thomas closed out the half with a 3-pointer to make the score 55-30 at the break. SU's 55 points were the most the Orange has scored in a half this season.
Syracuse's first points of the second half came from the charity stripe as the Crimson came out aggressive. SU continued to increase the separation with the help of a 11-2 run to hold the 69-36 advantage with 12:37 left. The momentum briefly swung in Harvard's favor as the defense forced two SU turnovers in less than two minutes en route to a 12-2 run to narrow the gap, 71-48, with 10:02 left in the game. Despite SU's poor ball handling in the second half, Harvard never truly threatened the Orange and it maintained its double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.
Harvard continued to pressure SU, but the Orange kept knocking down its free throws to maintain a dominating 79-53 lead. Harvard hit two 3-pointers in less than a minute, but it was still not enough to overcome the deficit as Syracuse cruised to an 87-68 final.
The Orange will face Richmond in the second round of the WNIT on Monday, March 22 at 7 p.m. at Manley Field House. Tickets for SU's game against the Richmond Spiders will go on sale at the Carrier Dome Box Office at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 19, as well as at the door. Patrons may also call the Box Office at 888-DOMETIX and press “0”. All tickets will be general admission and sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for students or youth 12 and under.
