Syracuse University
Villanova University
Orange Tames Wildcats in "Think Pink Day" Victory
2/12/2011 2:00:37 PM | Women's Basketball
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Final Stats | Photos | Postgame Interviews
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SYRACUSE, N. Y. - Sophomore center Kayla Alexander netted 22 points to help lead -/rv Syracuse (17-7, 5-6) to a decisive 70-49 victory versus BIG EAST Conference foe Villanova (8-16, 0-11) on Saturday's "Think Pink Day" at the Carrier Dome.
"Obviously, to win at home is so big in our conference," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "I thought for the most part, we did a really good job of getting out there and contesting shots. Obviously getting the ball inside was big for us. Kayla (Alexander) and Iasia (Hemingway) were very good. Shakeya (Leary) played a very good game and gave us some great minutes. She was very productive in her time on the floor."
With nine rebounds, Alexander was just one shy of a double-double afternoon. She also made use of costly Wildcat fouls, going 10-of-13 at the line. Junior guard Iasia Hemingway added to the offensive effort with 15 points, giving her a team-best 18 double-figure point games on the season.
The Orange took advantage 21 Wildcat turnovers, scoring 20 points off of Villanova miscues. Sophomore guard Carmen Tyson-Thomas led the Orange on the boards with 10 rebounds.
The Orange was able to draw first blood in the game, led by Iasia Hemingway, who netted the squad's first four points. Villanova's offense came to life and the teams traded points for the next six minutes, until Syracuse was able to pull away thanks to three from sophomore guard Elashier Hall, which started a nine point run for the Orange that culminated in an 18-10 lead with 13 minutes left in the first.
Alexander and Hemingway drained back-to-back jumpers to extend the team's lead into double figures, 25-12, with 8:20 remaining in the first. Consecutive Villanova threes cut the SU lead back to nine, but Syracuse was able to keep control of the momentum. The squad took its largest lead of the half when senior guard Tasha Harris netted a three, putting the Orange up 38-20 with just under four minutes to go. Villanova's Lindsey Kimmel and Sarah Jones each nailed a three in the final two minutes of the half, but Alexander knocked down another basket from inside the paint to give Syracuse a 15-point buffer, heading into the locker room, up 44-29 at the half.
While both squads came out slow after the break, Syracuse leaned on Alexander early in the second, as her six points were all the squad could muster in the first five minutes. Despite the Wildcats netting three from beyond the arc, SU's physical attack down low and its ability to take advantage of Villanova fouls, helped the team secure a 58-38 lead with seven minutes remaining in the contest. The Orange added another four free throws and a bucket from Tyson-Thomas to take its largest lead of the game, 64-40, with 4:36 to play. Kimmel and Devon Kane each buried a three for the Wildcats, but Tyson-Thomas was able to drain SU's final two buckets of the game, as the Orange took the game 70-49.
