'Cuse Captures First NCAA Tournament Win

Saturday, March 22

Lexington, Ky.

1:30 p.m.

Syracuse University

30-3

Chattanooga

22-10

Team	1	2	F
Chattanooga	24	29	53
Syracuse	28	31	59

3/22/2014 4:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

The Orange beat Chattanooga, 59-53, to advance to face Kentucky in the second round.

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Syracuse earned its first NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament win with a 59-53 decision over 11-seeded Chattanooga (29-4) on Saturday afternoon at Kentucky's Memorial Coliseum in front of 5,404 fans. The No. 6 seed Orange (23-9) advances to the second round where it will face No. 3 seed Kentucky on Monday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

Sophomores guards Brittney Sykes and Brianna Butler each recorded double-doubles with Sykes tallying 13 points and 12 rebounds and Butler notching 13 points and 10 rebounds. Senior center Shakeya Leary led the team with 15 points and contributed eight boards including five on the offensive end.

Syracuse shot 31.5 percent (17-54) from the field while UTC finished with a 34.4 shooting percentage (21-61). The Orange's advantage throughout the game was due in large part to the free throw differential. SU went 24-of-31 from the line while Chattanooga scored just 4-of-14.

The Orange was strong in the post, outrebounding the Mocs, 52-36, including 19 offensive boards that led to 19 second-chance points. SU also outscored UTC 28-18 in the paint.

The Orange controlled the pace of the game for most of the first half but 10-of-33 (30.3 percent) shooting from the field left Syracuse with just a four-point lead at halftime. Free throws were the difference-maker during the first 20 minutes with SU earning seven points on the charity stripe and UTC scoring zero despite three tries.

There were five lead changes and four ties throughout the first 8:18 until Syracuse went on a 9-2 run over the next 3:09 to take its largest lead of the half, 20-13. Chattanooga had an answer, however, going on a 6-0 run to cut Syracuse's advantage to one point but Sykes scored four straight points off two free throws and a fast-break layup and Briana Day added two off a put-pack to regain the Orange's seven-point lead. The Mocs scored three more before heading to the locker room and Syracuse started the second half with the 28-24 upper hand.

The Orange started the second half with a 12-5 run over the first 5:04 to take its largest lead of the day, 40-31, but the Mocs answered with a 7-1 run to get back within three points. Chattanooga's early foul trouble helped Syracuse increase its lead by three halfway through the second stanza with Peterson earning her first points of the game off three free throws.

Sykes left the game with 12:46 remaining and did not return after suffering a right knee injury on a drive to the basket. She finished with her third career double-double leading the game in points and rebounds at the time of her departure.

The Orange rallied after losing their team's leading scorer, going on a 6-1 run to regain its nine-point lead with 5:18 remaining in the game. Play was back-and-forth for the remainder of the game but Chattanooga wasn't able to come within more than four in the final minutes and the Orange came away with the 59-53 victory.

Taylor Hall, the Southern Conference Player of the Year, led the Mocs with 19 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.