Second Half Run Fuels Orange Win

Sunday, January 25

Syracuse, N.Y.

3 p.m.

Syracuse University

15-5, 5-2

NC State

12-8, 3-4

NC State

Syracuse

1/25/2015 5:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Syracuse scores fifth straight win with 66-49 victory against NC State

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Behind a 23-0 run in the second half, the No. 23/22 Syracuse University women's basketball team scored a 66-49 victory against North Carolina State on Sunday afternoon in the Carrier Dome. In total, Syracuse outscored North Carolina State, 40-20, in the final 20 minutes of competition.

"It's good to be able to protect our home court," head coach Quentin Hillsman stated. "I thought that was one of the most important things for us in this game. Coming out and protecting home court in conference because we know how hard it is to win on the road. It's the best conference in the country and when you go to other peoples' courts, it's really tough no matter how well you play."

With the win against North Carolina State (12-8, 3-4) on Sunday afternoon, Syracuse (15-5, 5-2) won its fifth straight game. It marked the longest winning streak by the Orange in 2014-15 and longest since the squad won its first eight games in 2013-14. In addition, it marked Syracuse's first victory against NC State in five tries.

Sophomore guard Alexis Peterson scored a team-best 27 points on the afternoon. It marked her second 20-point game of her collegiate career and sixth by an Orange in 2014-15. For the second straight game, sophomore center Briana Day tallied a double-double, recording 11 points and 16 rebounds. Day has 10 double-doubles on the year and 13 in her career. She was three blocked shots shy of a triple-double, as well.

NC State came out firing from downtown to open the contest. The visiting Wolfpack made its first two 3-point field goal attempts to take a 6-0 lead with 18:46 remaining in the first half. It marked the largest deficit the squad had faced since Jan. 8, 2015 at Duke.

The Orange promptly responded with an impressive run of its own. Peterson recorded seven straight points for Syracuse, allowing the squad to take its first lead with 15:58 left in the half. With a jump shot from Day and 3-point field goal from junior guard Brianna Butler, the Orange went on a 12-0 run, taking a 12-6 advantage with 15:01 to go in the opening 20 minutes.

For the rest of the half, it was a back-and-forth contest. The lead changed five times over the final 15 minutes of play. NC State closed the period on a 4-0 run to take a 29-26 edge into the locker room. Peterson recorded 14 points in the first half, well enough for her 13th straight game in double-figures.

The Wolfpack began the second half with a 3-point field goal to take a six-point lead. Once again, Syracuse responded with a run of its own, outscoring its opponent 23-0 to take a 49-32 advantage with 11:06 remaining. It marked the largest run the Orange has made during the 2014-15 season.

In all, it was all Orange in the second half. NC State was limited 17 points after knocking down its early second-half 3-point field goal. Syracuse put a final say on the game with a 3-point field goal by Butler with 1:25 left to give the club a 20-point advantage, its largest lead since Jan. 18 at Boston College.

The Orange women's basketball team returns to the court on Thursday night when it takes on No. 4/4 Louisville on the road. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.