Orange Knock off #16/17 Miami, 57-51

Monday, February 1

Coral Gables, Fla.

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

16-6, 6-3ACC

#16/17 Miami

18-4, 6-3ACC

Syracuse

Miami

2/1/2016 9:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Peterson scored a team-high 16 points on Monday

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – A clutch offensive rebound and put-back from junior center Briana Day with 45 seconds remaining in regulation powered the RV Syracuse University women's basketball team to a 57-51 victory at No. 16/17 Miami on Monday night. It marked Syracuse's first win against a nationally-ranked opponent on the road since a 78-73 victory at No. 6/6 North Carolina on Jan. 30, 2014.

"This was a real tough, gutsy win for our ball club," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "I thought they really competed at a tremendously high level. At the end of the day, all you ask for is tremendous effort. Our kids gave an unbelievable effort."

Following Day's bucket, the Orange (16-6, 6-3) knocked down six free throws to ice the contest against the Hurricanes (18-4, 6-3). Junior guard Alexis Peterson was responsible for four free throws made in that stretch and 10 points in the final 10 minutes of regulation. Peterson finished with a team-high 16 points on the night.

Syracuse took an early lead in the BankUnited Center, thanks to a 14-0 run in the opening frame. The Orange held its lead until the 2:07 mark of the third quarter. From there it was a wild finish, as the score would tie up three times in the final quarter of competition.

In addition to her team-high 16 points, Peterson also swiped four steals on the night. Heading into the contest, the Columbus, Ohio native ranked fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 48th nationally in steals, averaging 2.55 steals per game.

Senior guard Cornelia Fondren added 10 points and a squad-best seven rebounds at Miami. Fondren was a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in the Orange's ninth conference game of the season. It marked the Memphis, Tenn. product's fourth game in double-figures this year.

Syracuse will return home in its next contest, a conference clash with Clemson on Thursday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. The game will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at 1-888-DOMETIX, or by visiting the Carrier Dome box office (Gate B) during normal business hours.

The Orange will host its annual Celebration of Women Day on Sunday, Feb. 7 when the team takes on Georgia Tech. Anyone wearing pink, girl scouts, or clients of local women's businesses can receive a $5 ticket to the game. In addition, pink wristbands and cutouts of Hillsman's head on a stick will be given away.

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