Syracuse Falls Just Short of No. 9 Baylor

Friday, December 19

Orlando, Fla.

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

8-2

#9/9 Baylor

9-1

Syracuse

Baylor

12/19/2014 10:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Lady Bears rally for 74-72

Winter Park, Fla. – A late run from No. 9 Baylor erased a four-point lead from No. 19/22 Syracuse in the final three minutes to defeat the Orange 74-72 in the opening game of the Florida Sunshine Classic on Friday night.

Senior guard Diamond Henderson scored a season-high 27 points in the game on 5-of-7 shooting from behind the arc, while Alexis Peterson and Brianna Butler chipped in 16 points each.

Syracuse moved to 8-2 on the year with the loss, with both losses coming to top-10 opponents by a combined six points. Baylor improved to 9-1.

The Lady Bears used a 9-0 run early in the first half to take a nine-point lead that Syracuse spent the rest of the half chipping away at. Diamond Henderson's 13 first half points were what allowed 'Cuse to take a 29-26 lead at the break.

Henderson went on an 8-0 run by herself to complete the comeback and take Syracuse's largest lead of the period at five with under a minute to play. She hit two 3-pointers in the stretch as part of a perfect 3-for-3 half from long range.

Peterson also chipped in double figures in the first half, scoring 10.

Scoring picked up in the second half, with Syracuse shooting 44-percent from the floor in the period and the contest would stay close the entire way, with neither team leading by more than five the rest of the way.

Syracuse took three separate four-point leads in the final six minutes but the Lady Bears wouldn't let it get further than that.

Briana Day scored on back-to-back possessions as part of her 10 points in the game to give 'Cuse a 68-64 lead with just over three minutes to play.

After a jumper by Khadijiah Cave cut the game back to one possession, Peterson sunk a pair of free throws to keep the Orange cushion at four.

Back-to-back buckets from Sune Agbuke and Nina Davis, who finished with 26 points, erased the Orange lead and tied things up at 70, but another Day basket put the Orange back on top with 2:10 to play.

Agbuke answered on the ensuing possession and both teams managed to get stops on the defensive end until Niya Johnson hit the eventual game winner with 1:02 to play from just inside of the 3-point arc.

The Orange managed two more possessions with chances to tie, but Peterson's attempt in the final seconds just rolled off the rim and 'Cuse couldn't control the rebound in time.

Peterson's 16 points marked the eighth time in 10 games she hit double figures. Briana Day finished with 13 rebounds to make a double-double for her, which was her sixth on the season.

The Orange will next play No. 18/21 Michigan State on Sunday at 4 p.m. in the final game of the Florida Sunshine Classic.