Leary Leads Orange Past WSU in Opener

Sunday, November 10

Pullman, Wash.

4 p.m.

Syracuse University

1-0

Washington State

0-1

Team	1	2	F
Syracuse	30	39	69
Washington State	33	32	65

Shakeya Leary comes up with this loose ball.

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

11/10/2013 7:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Box Score | PDF

PULLMAN, Wash. - A career-high 21 points and 16 rebounds by senior center Shakeya Leary led Syracuse women's basketball (1-0) to a 69-65 season-opening win at Washington State (0-1) on Sunday afternoon at the Beasley Coliseum. The Orange returns home to host Dartmouth in the Carrier Dome opener on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Taking over the starting center position vacated by graduated first-round WNBA draft pick and all-time leading scorer Kayla Alexander, Leary dominated the post in her second career start, shooting 8-of-15 from the field and 5-of-5 at the free throw line, recording her second double-double in 103 games played.

The Cougars had the ball in the final minute, looking to tie game after a Brianna Butler jumper gave head coach Quentin Hillsman's Orange a 62-60 lead with 42 seconds left, but Brittney Sykes made a steal and took it in for a layup with 32 seconds left to put Syracuse on top by four, 64-60.

A WSU layup and an Orange turnover followed by a Cougars' 3-pointer by Lia Galdeira pulled the host team within one with three seconds left, but Cornelia Fondren sank two free throws with one second remaining to ice the game.

The sophomore Sykes finished with 16 points and five rebounds for the Orange, while senior point guard Rachel Coffey dished out a game-high seven assists to go along with six rebounds. Sophomore forward Taylor Ford contributed a career-best nine rebounds off the bench.

Washington State was led by Tia Presley's 20 points and Sage Romberg added 15 points. Shalie Dheensaw led the Cougars on the boards with 13.

On a day both teams shot under 40 percent from the field, with SU shooting 36 percent (27-75) and WSU shooting 28.8 percent (21-73), the Orange dominated the boards, matching last season's high with 61 rebounds, 15 more than the hosts' 46.

Syracuse jumped out to an early lead, going up 13-4 on a Brianna Butler 3-pointer with 11:35 on the clock. It led by as many as 11 on a Sykes lay-up that made it 17-6 at the midway point of the half, but the Cougars mounted a comeback, closing the half by outscoring the Orange 19-7, sending SU to the locker room down, 33-30.

The second half was a back and forth affair that featured 15 lead changes and neither side ever leading by more than four. Leary scored six of eight points for SU at point in the closing minutes.

Freshman Isabella Slim started in her first career game for Syracuse, scoring three points and grabbing three rebounds in 10 minutes. Also making their career debuts were freshmen Brianna Day (five points, four rebounds, 13 minutes), Tasia Butler (two points, five minutes) and Alexis Peterson (five minutes).

Syracuse is now 30-13 all-time in season openers, including 7-1 under Hillsman.

Thursday's dome opener vs. the Big Green kicks off a four-game homestand for the Orange. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 1-888-DOMETIX, or at the Carrier Dome Box Office. Parking at women's basketball games is free in the stadium west lots.