Alexander Leads SU Past Temple, 82-68

Thursday, March 22

Philadelphia, Pa.

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

Temple

Kayla Alexander tied a SU postseason record with 29 points on Thursday

Photo by: James Burke

3/22/2012 7:52:31 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score | Season Stats
VIDEO: Press Conference

PHILADELPHIA – Kayla Alexander's 29 points led four Orange players in double figures as the Syracuse women's basketball team (21-14) defeated Temple 82-68 in the third round of the WNIT on Thursday night at McGonigle Hall. Alexander scored 17 of her points in the second half as SU advances to play at Toledo in the quarterfinals of the tournament for the second straight season.

Alexander, who moved into eighth place on Syracuse's all-time scoring list (1,418) on Thursday, also tied a SU postseason record for points in a game, and set new marks for field goals made (12) and blocks (six) while Rachel Coffey set a new program postseason record with eight assists, a career-best.

The Orange 47-percent (30-of-64) for the game, including a 18-of-33 (55-percent) performance in the second half. Despite being outrebounded 43-42, SU dominated inside with 42 points in the paint.

After ¬Temple shot out to a quick 4-0 lead, Carmen Tyson-Thomas put the Orange on the board by completing the three-point play after being fouled on a shot from the right corner. Tyson-Thomas recorded her second straight double-double in her hometown with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Temple was hot from the floor early on, hitting four of its first five shots, including two three-pointers from Shey Peddy and Kristen McCarthy. Peddy led the Owls with 20 points as four players reached double figures.

After the Owls went up 14-10 on two free throws from Peddy, Syracuse began working the inside-outside game as Coffey hit a deep three and Alexander converted on a layup to give SU its first lead of the game with 12:57 left in the half. Alexander pulled down 10 rebounds to pick up her second straight double-double, and 10th of the season.

A Rateska Brown jumper helped Temple regain the lead at 20-19 with 11:31 left in the half, but Elashier Hall would go to work at the other end, first by threading a pass through the Owl defense to Phylesha Bullard and then going up and under for a layup and a 22-20 Orange edge.

SU held a one-point edge with 6:39 left to play before Victoria Macauley scored six straight Temple points for a 29-26 TU advantage.

With less than one minute left in the first half, Iasia Hemingway hit her first three-pointer since March 4, 2011 against Seton Hall before Peddy nailed a three of her own from 25-feet out off glass at the buzzer.

Five early points from Tyson-Thomas and three Alexander blocks extended the Syracuse lead to 42-38, but Peddy's third three-pointer of the game and two free throws from Nikki Works gave TU a 43-42 edge in the 10th lead change of the contest.

The Orange would respond with a 14-3 run, highlighted by a Tyson-Thomas three from the right wing to give SU a 56-46 lead with 10:16 left to play.

Syracuse continued to find Alexander under the bucket during the second half, helping the Milton, Ontario native to her 10th game this season with at least 20 points.

SU reached its second double-digit lead of the night at 66-56 with less than six minutes left in regulation, and Temple would cut the deficit to as little as six with 4:21 to play.