Syracuse Cruises to 70-25 Win Against NCCU

Sunday, December 14

Syracuse, N.Y.

12 p.m.

Syracuse University

7-1

NC Central

2-8

NC Central

Syracuse

12/14/2014 2:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Holds opponent to lowest scoring output since Dec. 4, 2010

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The No. 22/20 Syracuse University women's basketball team cruised to a 70-25 victory against North Carolina Central on Sunday afternoon in the Carrier Dome. It marked the fewest points Syracuse has held an opponent to since recording an 87-17 victory against Delaware State on Dec. 4, 2010.

"Obviously, I thought we shot the ball really well in the second half," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "We came out a little sluggish in the first half. You come out of finals off of 10 days off; you never know how that first half or even how that game could play out. I thought that our defense was great. They hit two 3-point field goals in the first five minutes of the game and we only gave up one in the last 35 minutes. Obviously, that was what we needed to do on defense, keep their 3-pointers down. I thought we did a good job of that."

For the second straight game, sophomore center Briana Day recorded a double-double, tallying 15 points and 10 rebounds. It marked her fifth double-double of the 2014-15 season. Sophomore guard Alexis Peterson and junior guard Brianna Butler each scored in double-figures, finishing with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

From the start, the Syracuse (7-1) defense was swarming. The Orange did not surrender a point to North Carolina Central (2-8) until the 16:32 mark of the first half, taking a 12-0 lead in the opening minutes. Syracuse recorded four steals in the first 3:28 of the contest.

After the visiting Eagles cut the Syracuse lead to 12-6 with 15:23 remaining in the half, the Orange outscored its opposition 18-6 over the remainder of the period. Heading into the halftime intermission, Syracuse owned a 30-12 advantage.

It marked the fewest points an opposing team had scored in the first half against the Orange since Feb. 23, 2014 when Pittsburgh was held to 11 points. The squad finished with nine steals after the first 20 minutes and scored nine points off turnovers. In total, Syracuse recorded 29 points off turnovers to NC Central's zero.

Syracuse carried its momentum over to the second half of competition. The squad used an 8-0 run in the first two minutes of the period to jump out to a 38-12 lead. Butler and Peterson both knocked down 3-point field goals during that stretch.

The Orange did not take its foot off the gas pedal, outscoring North Carolina Central 30-10 over the final 18:01 of the contest. At the 3:14 mark, the club owned a 48-point advantage, its largest lead of the 2014-15 season. Ultimately, the team cruised to a 70-25 victory, its 66th straight home non-conference victory.

Syracuse is back in action on Tuesday night against in-state foe Canisius. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. The game will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, as well.