#21 Syracuse Scores First ACC Win

Sunday, January 11

Syracuse, N.Y.

1 p.m.

Syracuse University

11-5, 1-2

Virginia

12-4, 2-1

Virginia

Syracuse

1/11/2015 3:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Syracuse knocks down 12 3-point field goals against Virginia

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The No. 21 Syracuse University women's basketball team recorded its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory of the 2014-15 season with a 70-58 win against Virginia on Sunday afternoon in the Carrier Dome.

"This was a must win," head coach Quentin Hillsman stated. "I thought that we had to have this game, that this was a must win. It was a critical game for us in this conference. We couldn't drop another home game no matter who it was against. I thought that our kids came out and played really, really tough early and that was a key in this game. Second half, they came out and made a little run at us, but we settled down and did some things to stop the run."

Sophomore guard Alexis Peterson led the squad in scoring for the fifth time in 2014-15 with 16 points on the day. Senior guard Maggie Morrison finished with a personal-best 12 points, as well. Sophomore center Briana Day had her eighth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 boards.

For the second game in-a-row, Syracuse (11-5, 1-2) was hot beyond the 3-point line. The Orange knocked down 12 3-point field goals, 44 percent of its attempts, on the day, its second-most during the 2014-15 season. In the past two contests, the club has recorded 25 3-point field goals.

Peterson scored the first 10 points for the Orange against Virginia (12-4, 2-1), putting the club ahead, 10-2, with 14:37 left in the first half. In the first six minutes of the game, Peterson scored 10 points, marking the ninth straight game with at least 10 points. She has scored in double-figures a team-best 14 times during the 2014-15 season.

Virginia would cut Syracuse's lead to 21-17 with 7:44 remaining in the opening period. Senior guards Diamond Henderson and Morrison would hit back-to-back 3-point field goals to put the squad back ahead 10 points.

Morrison was on fire from beyond the arc. The Millersville, Md. Native knocked down her first four 3-point field goal attempts, all coming in the final 5:59 minutes of play in the first half. In just six minutes, she set career-highs in points scored and 3-point field goals, fueling the Orange to a 41-23 halftime lead.

Out of the halftime break, Virginia came out and seized the early momentum. The Cavaliers went on an 11-3 run in the opening four minutes of the second half, making it a 44-34 contest. With 12:30 remaining, UVA sophomore guard Breyana Mason knocked down two free throws to cut the deficit to under 10 points, as Syracuse led 50-41.

Junior forward Taylor Ford knocked down consecutive 3-point field goals to make it a 15-point game with 10 minutes remaining. Virginia would combat with two straight from the beyond arc to make it 58-49 with nine minutes left in regulation. That would be the closest it would get for the visiting Cavaliers, as Syracuse recorded a 12-point win.

The Orange women's basketball team will be back in competition on Thursday night against Wake Forest. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Carrier Dome. The game will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.