#25 Syracuse Loses at North Carolina, 77-73

Thursday, January 7

Chapel Hill, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

11-4, 1-1ACC

North Carolina

12-5, 2-0ACC

Syracuse

North Carolina

1/7/2016 9:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Junior guard Alexis Peterson notched 22 points

CHAPEL HILL, N.C – The No. 25 Syracuse University women's basketball led for more than 35 minutes, but ultimately lost, 77-73, at North Carolina on Thursday night in Carmichael Arena. The loss snapped the Orange's two-game win streak against the Tar Heels.

"Our kids are scrappers," head coach Quentin Hillsman stated. "I thought they had great effort. Everything that was a tough play, we won that category, except for the score. At the end of the day, that is all that matters. Tonight, they had the most points on the board."

Syracuse (11-4, 1-1) came out firing in the opening minutes of the Atlantic Coast Conference clash. The Orange scored the first 10 points of the game, to take an early advantage 1:36 into the contest. Senior guard Brianna Butler and junior forward Isabella Slim each knocked down a 3-point field goal in that frame.

North Carolina (12-5, 2-0) would not go away on its home floor. The Tar Heels crept back into the contest and took its first lead of the game with 4:07 remaining in regulation. Syracuse had its opportunities in the end, but could not prevail.

Its best chance for a victory came with eight seconds left. Butler pulled up for a 3-point field goal, which would have given the squad a one-point advantage. The shot fell short and North Carolina sealed the win with four free throws made.

For the sixth time in the 2015-16 season, junior guard Alexis Peterson paced the club in scoring. Peterson finished with 22 points on the night, going an efficient 9-for-18 from the field. It marked Peterson's ninth 20-point game of her collegiate career.

Butler scored 19 points at North Carolina, knocking down five from beyond the arc. The King of Prussia, Pa. product moved into eighth place on the Syracuse all-time scoring list after making her third 3-point field goal. Butler has scored 1,342 points in her time on campus.

Syracuse returns to the friendly confines of the Carrier Dome on Sunday afternoon when its hosts Virginia Tech in its third conference contest of the season. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.

Sunday's contest marks the team's annual Team Day. Teams that register for the event will get in free. In addition, the annual 'Cuse Carnival will be held in the Carrier Dome backcourt on Sunday afternoon. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at 1-888-DOMETIX, or by visiting the Carrier Dome box office (Gate B).

For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /SyracuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram, and @CuseWBB on Twitter.