Late Orange Run Slays Dragons, 65-43

Monday, March 19

Philadelphia, Pa.

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

Drexel

Kayla Alexander picked up her ninth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds

Photo by: James Burke

3/19/2012 7:51:13 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score | Season Stats | WNIT Bracket

PHILADELPHIA – The Syracuse women's basketball team used a 21-2 run and held Drexel without a point for nearly six minutes down the stretch to knock off the Dragons (19-14) on Monday night at Daskalakis Athletic Center in the second round of the WNIT, 65-43. The Orange (20-14) advances to the third round of the tournament, and will travel to Temple on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

With the victory, the Orange reaches the 20-win plateau for the fourth consecutive season, and fifth time in the past six seasons.

Syracuse had four players reach double-figures, led by Kayla Alexander's 16 points and 11 rebounds. Philadelphia native Carmen Tyson-Thomas also recorded a double-double, her eighth of the season, with 13 points and a game-high 12 boards in her first start in seven games.

Syracuse shot 35 percent (23-of-65) from the floor for the game while holding the Dragons to 26 percent on 15-of-57 shooting. SU easily controlled the game on the glass, holding a 58-33 edge. The Orange also grabbed 22 offensive boards, which led to 22 second chance points. Kamile Nacickaite and Tyler Hale had 11 points each for the Dragons.

Iasia Hemingway got off to a quick start to set the tone for the Orange, scoring four of SU's first eight points, including a put back after securing an offensive board.

Rachel Coffey would hit a three from the right elbow to open up an 11-4 Syracuse lead, but the Dragons would answer with an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 13-12.

After the teams traded buckets through the middle of the first half, the Orange extended its lead back to seven, it's largest of the half, as Tyson-Thomas completed a three-point play after grabbing a rebound off the offensive glass and laying it in, drawing a foul on Nicole Jones to make it 25-19.

The Orange continued to control play under the bucket, coming out of the halftime break with a second chance basketball from Alexander off a board from Tyson-Thomas.

After the Dragons hit two free throws to make it 30-28, Alexander went off glass for two off an inbound feed from Elashier Hall, and following a steal on the defensive end, Hall buried a three from the left side to bring the Syracuse lead back to seven once again.

Back-to-back Drexel baskets, including a runner from Hale made it a one possession game at 36-34 with less than 14 minutes remaining in regulation. Hale would continue to pester the Orange as she drew a blocking foul on Hemingway, sending the Syracuse senior the bench with four fouls and 13:23 to play.

SU got the Dragons into foul trouble with less than 10 minutes left in the second half with consistent play under the bucket, putting Syracuse in the double bonus with 5:09 left on the clock.

With Drexel applying the double-team to Alexander in the paint, that opened up Syracuse's outside shooting, and Hall knocked down a three with less than five minutes left in regulation to give SU a 49-41 edge. The Orange would build its lead to double-digits during the final four minutes with free throws to secure the victory.