Sykes Beats St. Joe's at Buzzer, 64-62

Saturday, December 21

Syracuse, N.Y.

1 p.m.

Syracuse University

11-1

Saint Joseph's

9-2

Team	1	2	F
Saint Joseph's	28	34	62
Syracuse	31	33	64

12/21/2013 3:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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SYRACUSE, N.Y.—Brittney Sykes' buzzer-beater layup lifted the No. 23/RV Syracuse women's basketball team (11-1) past Saint Joseph's (9-2) in a thrilling 64-62 victory on Saturday afternoon in the Carrier Dome. Sykes had her fourth consecutive 20-point game to extend SU's streak to 60 non-conference home wins.

"We had three games this week, playing with tired legs, tired mind, fatigue and they had finals," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "We're just glad to come out of this game with a win. It was all guts and all heart, our kids really competed."

The Orange played from behind for most of the game, coming back from a 14-point deficit in the middle of the first half and gaining its first lead of the second half with 3:30 remaining in the game off a Rachel Coffey 3-pointer. Sykes took over from there, scoring six points in the final 2:37 to defeat the Hawks.

After Sykes sank two free throws to give Syracuse a 62-60 lead with 43.5 seconds left, Natasha Cloud hit a floater in the lane with 21 seconds left to tie the game. After SU took a timeout with 10.7 seconds left, Sykes drove to the basket to hit the game-winner just before time expired.

Brianna Butler totaled 15 points against the Hawks including 11 in the first half that helped SU take its first lead of the game and go into the locker room with a lead. Briana Day scored the second double-double of her career, notching 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Sykes was one rebound shy of a double-double with 20 points and nine boards.

The Orange was perfect from the charity stripe, sinking all 17 free throws it was awarded. The Hawks were strong from long range, shooting 43.5 percent from beyond the arc including seven 3-pointers from Erin Shields, who led the game with 21 points. Syracuse shot 30.9 percent from the field while Saint Joseph's shot 34.4 percent.

The Orange was strong in the post, scoring 30 in the paint and outrebounding the Hawks 56-34. St. Joes had the edge in transition, scoring 22 points off turnovers and 16 fast break points.

The Hawks took control of the game early, going on a 21-7 run to open the game to give Saint Joseph's its largest lead of the game. The Orange fought back, denying St. Joe's a field goal for the final 10:09 of the half while going on a 20-4 run to take a 31-28 lead going into halftime. Brianna Butler scored eight points during the run, beginning with a 3-point play that started the SU comeback. She ended Orange first half scoring with a 3-pointer to give Syracuse a five point lead, its largest of the game.

Saint Joseph's started the second half as strong as it began the game, going on a 14-2 run over the first 3:22 to regain the lead but Syracuse steadily came back to come within one with 9:50 left in the game. The Orange regained its lead with 3:32 left in the game, which it would not give up. The Hawks tied it twice but Sykes's shot would give Syracuse the victory.

Sykes also provided Syracuse's last buzzer-beating win when her steal and half-court shot beat St. John's on Jan. 23.

Syracuse travels to Arizona State to take on the Sun Devils on Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. ET.