Syracuse Defeats Nebraska, 72-69, in NCAA First Round

Friday, March 20

Columbia, S.C.

7:30 p.m.

Syracuse University

22-9

Nebraska

21-11

Nebraska

Syracuse

Syracuse Defeats Nebraska, 72-69, in NCAA First Round

3/20/2015 10:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Records its second-ever victory in the NCAA Tournament

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The eighth-seeded Syracuse University women's basketball team used a clutch performance to score a 72-69 victory against ninth-seeded Nebraska in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament on Friday night at Colonial Life Arena. With the win, Syracuse recorded its second victory in NCAA Tournament play in program history.

Syracuse (22-9) was terrific on both ends of the floor, forcing 19 Nebraska (21-11) turnovers, while only committing eight. In addition, Syracuse knocked down just over 40 percent of its attempts from the field, making 28-of-69 attempts.

All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer sophomore guard Alexis Peterson lived up to her billing, leading the team with 24 points on the night. It marked her sixth 20-point performance of the 2014-15 season. Junior guard Cornelia Fondren topped her career-high for the second straight game, finishing with 18 points.

Junior guard Brianna Butler was spectacular down the stretch. After only scoring five points in the first half, Butler scored 12 second-half points to finish with 17 points against the Cornhuskers. She made the shot that put the team up for good with 59 seconds remaining in regulation.

It was a back-and-forth contest throughout the entirety of the first half. The teams exchanged leads four times and neither squad led by more than six points during the opening 20 minutes of play. After all was said and done in the first half, the teams went into the locker room tied, 36-36.

Fondren and Peterson, each coming off career-high outings against Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament second round, paced the Orange in the first half. Fondren recorded 12 points, four shy of personal-best, while Peterson tallied 10 points.

As a team, Syracuse shot exceptionally well in the first half. The team knocked down 15-of-35 attempts from the field, including 5-of-14 shooting from beyond the 3-point line. It marked the team's best shooting percentage in the first half (.429) since Feb. 19 against Boston College.

The game stayed at the same pace in the second half. In total, the lead changed four more times in the final 20 minutes of play. Neither team led by more than five points, as well.

On three occasions, Syracuse pushed its lead to five points in the second half. Every time the Orange looked to extend its advantage further, the Cornhuskers came right back.

With 1:26 remaining in regulation, Nebraska tied things up for the final time. Butler knocked down a jumper with 59 seconds left to put Syracuse up two. Nebraska got it back to within one point, but Peterson knocked down four free throws to seal the win.

Syracuse will take on top-seeded South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night in Columbia, S.C. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena.