Late Surge Lifts #23/22 Syracuse at Va Tech

Sunday, February 15

Blacksburg, Va.

2 p.m.

Syracuse University

18-8, 8-5

Virginia Tech

10-16, 1-12

Syracuse

Virginia Tech

2/15/2015 4:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Uses 16-1 run to secure victory

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Over the final 4:09 of play, the No. 23/22 Syracuse University women's basketball team used a 16-1 run to score a 59-51 victory on the road at Virginia Tech on Sunday afternoon. With the victory, Syracuse is ensured to finish with a .500 record in conference competition for the third straight season.

Syracuse (18-8, 8-5) trailed for 20:47 of the game, but was able to use a late rally for its second straight road win in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Junior guard Brianna Butler knocked down her third 3-point field goal of the game with 1:39 remaining to give the Orange a 53-51 lead against Virginia Tech (10-16, 1-12). The team made six free throws to put the icing on the cake, securing the eight-point win.

Butler finished with 19 points for the second game in-a-row. Sophomore guard Alexis Peterson tallied 17 points, her 22nd game in double-figures in 2014-15. Sophomore center Briana Day recorded her 11th double-double of the 2014-15 season on Sunday afternoon. Day registered 12 points and 14 rebounds against the Hokies.

From the opening tip, Day was in control down low. The sophomore center pulled down five rebounds in the first three minutes of the contest. She scored five of the Orange's first six points against Virginia Tech, as well. Day finished with seven points and 10 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes of play.

Neither team could muster much offense in the opening half. Syracuse made more free throws (9) than shots from the field (5) in the first half. For only the second time in 2014-15, the club was held to less than 20 points in the first frame. Virginia Tech only made nine field goals, as well.

Syracuse held a 17-12 advantage after a jump shot from junior guard Cornelia Fondren with 3:55 remaining in the half. Virginia Tech went on a 13-2 run over the remainder of the period to take a 24-19 lead into the locker room.

Out of the halftime intermission, Syracuse used a 9-3 run to take a 28-27 advantage with 16:34 remaining in regulation. Peterson knocked down the team's first 3-point field goal of the day to give the Orange its first lead of the half.

Virginia Tech came right back with a 7-1 run to retake the lead, 34-29, with 13:33 left in regulation. A lay-up from Peterson and 3-point field goal from Butler tied things right back up with 11:02 to go.

Over the next 6:37, Syracuse did not make a shot from the field, allowing Virginia Tech to take a 48-41 lead. The squad did make seven free throws during that time, keeping them in the contest on the road and setting the stage for the late surge.

The Syracuse women's basketball team returns home for its final two home games of the 2014-15 regular season this upcoming week. Syracuse hosts Boston College on Thursday night before it takes on Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon on Senior Day.