Alexander Breaks Career Scoring Record

Saturday, January 26

Villanova, Pa.

6:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

(16-3, 4-2BE)

Villanova

(16-3, 5-1BE)

Syracuse

Villanova

Kayla Alexander became Syracuse's all-time leading scorer in Saturday's loss at Villanova.

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

1/26/2013 8:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Rachel Roberts scored a career-high 26 points as No. 25 Villanova shot 10-of-25 from 3-point range to defeat No. 22 Syracuse, 64-59, in a back-and-forth game at the Pavilion on Saturday night. Kayla Alexander scored six points to become the Orange's all-time leading scorer, passing Nicole Michael for the top spot in career points.

With a lay-up at the 1:03 mark of the first half, Alexander scored her third and fourth points of the game, passing Michael's (2007-10) mark of 1,787. She finished the game with 1,791 career points.

Elashier Hall led the Orange with 17 points and nine rebounds. Brittney Sykes added 14 points, while Brianna Butler and Carmen Tyson-Thomas each added nine in a game that featured 13 lead changes and 11 ties.

A Butler jumper with 1:12 remaining put SU within three of the Wildcats, 62-59, but Tyson-Thomas and Hall each missed 3-point attempts in the final 31 seconds that would have tied the game. Devon Kane sealed the victory for Villanova with a pair of free throws with eight seconds left to put her team up five and close the scoring.

Villanova shot 42.1 percent overall, including its 10-of-25 effort from behind the arc, while Syracuse shot 41 percent and was 4-of-17 on 3-point attempts. The Wildcats held a slight rebounding advantage, 37-36, but SU controlled the scoring in the paint, 32-18, and on the fast break, 11-0.

After Villanova widened its lead to seven early in the second half, the Orange went on a 13-2 run to take the lead, 48-44. Hall led the run with six points, the last two of which came on a baseline jumper with 13:32 to go.

The Orange held the lead until the 9:06 mark, when Katherine Coyer hit a 3-pointer from the corner to give Villanova the lead, 54-53. After a 1-of-2 trip to the free throw line by Hall tied the game, 55-55, Roberts gave the Wildcats the lead for good with her sixth and final 3-pointer with 6:42 left, making it 57-54.

An Alexander layup with 5:02 left drew SU within one, 57-56, but Sweeney responded with a 3-ball of her own at 4:11 to put Villanova up four.

Villanova took a 38-33 lead into the half, the largest lead for either side in a back-and-forth first 20 minutes that saw 11 lead changes and eight ties. The Wildcats were 6-of-9 from 3-point range, led by a 4-of-4 effort from Roberts, while SU dominated inside, out-scoring them, 20-10. Tyson-Thomas led the Orange with nine points, while Hall and Sykes added eight each.

The Orange returns home to the Carrier Dome on Wednesday to host Seton Hall at 7 p.m.

Today @kjalexan40 broke my record as the #1 scorer in SU History! Congrats Kayla!! You deserve this!! I knew you would be the one to do it!!
— Nicole Michael (@Slinkz32) January 26, 2013