Alexander Leads SU Past Marquette, 79-63

Saturday, February 18

Carrier Dome

2 p.m.

Syracuse University

Marquette

Kayla Alexander scored more than 20 points for the ninth time this season.

Photo by: Charles Wainwright

2/18/2012 1:50:26 PM | Women's Basketball

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Kayla Alexander scored 23 points and the SU women's basketball team (16-11, 5-8) used a 16-0 second half run to pull away from Marquette (13-13, 4-9) on Saturday in the Carrier Dome, 79-63. Alexander led four SU players in double-figures as the Orange earned its fifth straight win against the Golden Eagles.

"The 16th win brings us one step closer to the postseason," said head coach Quentin Hillsman. "Hopefully, we can string some more wins together and get ourselves into the NCAA Tournament."

In her ninth 20-point game of the season, Alexander was 10-of-13 from the floor and tied a season high with five blocks. Elashier Hall (14 points), Carmen Tyson-Thomas (15 points) and Iasia Hemingway (13 points) also scored in double-figures for the Orange, while Rachel Coffey tied a career high with six assists.

Phylesha Bullard, who earned her second start of the season in the game, had a career-high four steals while adding eight points. SU shot 54 percent from the floor (31-of-57) while the Orange scored 32 points off 21 MU turnovers.

The Orange got off to a slow start as Marquette opened the game on a 6-0 run, including two baskets from Sarina Simmons, prompting an early timeout by SU. The Golden Eagles used a balanced scoring attack with four players in double-figures, led by Arlesia Morse's 15 points. Marquette shot 39 percent for the game on a 25-of-65 performance.

Syracuse would answer with six straight points of its own coming out of the timeout, highlighted by Hall's coast-to-coast drive before nailing a jumper from the free throw line. Alexander would then score eight consecutive points to give the Orange its first lead of the game midway through the first half.

After SU opened up an eight-point lead at 18-10, the Golden Eagles countered with a 10-2 to level the score at 20. Tyson-Thomas, however, would give Syracuse the lead right back with a jumper from the right side with 6:37 left to play.

With five straight points to begin the second half, Syracuse opened up its largest lead of the afternoon with a 41-29 lead, but Marquette would counter with 10 of the next 12 points to cut the SU advantage to 43-39.

SU began to pull away with a 12-0 run is less than four minutes to take a 59-39 lead. Hall scored five points during the spurt.

Marquette would piece together a brief 8-2 to pull within 12 points late, but a three-pointer from Coffey with 2:23 left in regulation brought SU back up by 15 at 73-58.

The Orange will hit the road on Tuesday for a matchup with No. 24/20 DePaul at 9:00 p.m. before returning to the Carrier Dome to take on Georgetown for Senior Day on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.