SU Defeats Friars In Big East Tournament

Friday, March 2

Hartford, Conn.

12 p.m.

Syracuse University

Providence

Bullard scored four points and grabbed five rebounds for the Orange

3/2/2012 12:56:04 PM | Women's Basketball

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Orange Nation Tournament Central

HARTFORD, Conn.--The Syracuse women's basketball team (18-13, 6-10) used a 17-0 second half run to defeat the Providence Friars (13-17, 5-11), 57-47 , in the first round of the BIG EAST Championship at the XL Center on Friday. The Orange advances to take on the No. 5 seed West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday at noon.

After Providence trimmed the Orange's 23-18 halftime lead to one point just four minutes into the second half, Syracuse responded by going on a 17-0 run to stretch the SU lead to 46-28 with 8:29 to play. The Orange's 17-point run was highlighted by sophomore Shakeya Leary scoring eight consecutive points.

Syracuse's win over Providence marks the first time in school history that the Orange has won a game in three-straight BIG EAST Tournaments.

Leary would finish the game with 12 points and six rebounds. Senior Iasia Hemingway and junior Kayla Alexander each scored a game-high 15 for the Orange. Alexander also contributed a game-high ten rebounds.

The Orange won the battle of the boards, finishing the game with a 49-44 edge. The Orange dominated the glass throughout the first half, holding a 31-24 edge over the Friars at halftime after sophomore Phylesha Bullard contributed all five of her rebounds in the half.

Both teams struggled offensively throughout the first half, as Syracuse shot 20.6% (7-of-34) and Providence shot 26.3 (8-of-30) from the field. The Orange improved on that mark and shot 44.8% (13-of-29) in the second half.

Junior Elashier Hall finished with a game-high five steals and seven points for the Orange.

The win marked head coach Quentin Hillsman's fourth BIG EAST tournament win and improved his career record to .500 (4-4) in the tournament.

Syracuse will take on West Virginia for the second time this season on Saturday. In the two teams' previous meeting, the Mountaineers defeated the Orange, 76-72, in Syracuse on December 7.