Orange Take Home Paradise Jam Reef Division Title

Saturday, November 25

Washington, D.C.

3:30 p.m.

Syracuse University

(6-0)

George Washington

(3-4)

Syracuse

George Washington

Photo by: Terrence Williams

Orange Take Home Paradise Jam Reef Division Title

11/25/2017 6:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Cuse TV: Hillsman Postgame Cuse TV: Highlights

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Syracuse women's basketball team (6-0) took home the Paradise Jam Reef Division title after defeating George Washington (3-4), 74-62, Saturday afternoon at the Charles E. Smith Center. This is the second time in five years that the Orange have won their division of the Paradise Jam.

Sophomore Tiana Mangakahia was tabbed as the Jam's MVP after totaling 41 points and 41 assists for three consecutive double-doubles in the tournament. She broke the Paradise Jam record for single-game assists (17) and three-game tournament assists (41).

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
The Orange jumped out to an early lead as Miranda Drummond drained back-to-back threes to spark a 15-0 run for 'Cuse. It was all Orange through the first quarter as the team shot 66 percent (12-for-18) from the field, with five three pointers, to take a 31-18 lead after 10 minutes of action.

The Colonials crept back into the game as a 3-pointer by Kelsi Mahoney pulled George Washington to within eight at the 7:51 mark in the second quarter. However, the Orange kept rolling, pouring in four straight baskets capped by a 3-pointer from Isis Young. Five more Syracuse threes put the Orange up, 53-32, heading into halftime.

The teams traded baskets throughout the third quarter as Syracuse worked to maintain a 20-point lead over the Colonials. A pair of free throws at the 2:30 mark by Mangakahia gave Syracuse its largest lead of the game at 25 points. Eight of the Orange's 13 points in the third quarter came from the charity stripe.

George Washington used an 8-0 run, including a pair of 3-pointers, to close the gap to 14 points with 4:34 remaining in the game. Sophomore Gabrielle Cooper responded for the Orange, knocking down her team-leading fourth 3-pointer of the game. The Colonials would not go quietly, pulling to within 10 with a fast-break layup at 1:55 mark, but Syracuse held them off to take the 74-62 victory.

OF NOTE
It was truly a team effort as nine of Syracuse's 11 players recorded a basket in the game. The Orange bench totaled 24 points in the outing, led by Young (12) and Jasmine Nwajei (six).

Syracuse shot 11-for-27 from the 3-point arc, marking the third consecutive game that the team has recorded 10+ 3-pointers in an outing. Cooper accounted for four of the threes, while Drummond and Young tallied three each.

Mangakahia extended her assist streak to six games as the sophomore tallied 10 dishes against George Washington for her sixth consecutive game with 10+ assists. She has recorded a double-double in five straight games and is averaging 13.3 points and 11.8 assists per game this season.

TWEET OF THE GAME

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— 'Cuse Women's Hoops (@CuseWBB) November 25, 2017

Q'S THOUGHTS
"We jumped out early and played really tough," said head coach Quentin Hillsman. "We started the game 15-0 and we won by 12 so I'm really proud of our team. To be undefeated right now, in a year when we are transitioning players in, is amazing. I'm really happy for them and they deserve it."

UP NEXT
The Orange return to the Carrier Dome on Nov. 30 to host Northwestern for the Big 10/ACC Challenge. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

Fans can purchase tickets for these games online, by phone at 1-888-DOMETIX, or by visiting the Carrier Dome box office (Gate B) during normal business hours.

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