Thursday, December 21
Las Vegas
5:30 p.m.
Syracuse University
11-1
65
vs
76
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Mississippi State
13-0
1
2
3
4
F
Syracuse
18
11
19
17
65
#5/3 Mississippi State
22
22
19
13
76
Orange Come Up Short Against Mississippi State
12/21/2017 8:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LAS VEGAS - It was a battle of two undefeated teams as the Syracuse women's basketball team (11-1) came up short, 76-65, against No. 5/3 Mississippi State (13-0) in the Orange's first game of the Duel in the Desert. Gabrielle Cooper led the Orange in scoring for the second consecutive game, pouring in 22 points for Syracuse.
'Cuse looks to bounce back when it takes on UNLV in the final game of the Duel in the Desert tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. PST. The game will air on FloHoops and can be heard on ESPN 97.7 or Cuse.TV.
HOW IT WAS DECIDED
The Orange hung with the Bulldogs through much of the first quarter, taking a 7-6 lead at the 4:33 mark off a drive to the rim by sophomore Tiana Mangakahia. The teams traded the lead over the next couple of minutes until a 3-pointer by Blair Schaefer set the Bulldogs on a 5-0 run. Cooper came through for the Orange in the closing seconds of the first, knocking down a shot from beyond the arc to pull 'Cuse to within four at the end of the first frame.
It was all Mississippi State from there on out as the Bulldogs gradually extended their lead over the next three quarters. A pair of layups by Mangakahia and redshirt junior Miranda Drummond closed the gap to four at 6:22 in the second quarter, making it 28-24, Mississippi State.Â
Despite the offensive display by the Bulldogs, Syracuse would not go down without a fight, coming back from a 19-point deficit with 6:19 remaining in the game to face an 11-point defeat at the end of 40 minutes of action.
OF NOTE
With 22 points, Cooper has scored 20+ points in back-to-back games and notched her sixth game of the season in double-figures. She finished the night with 22 points and nine rebounds, just one board short of a double-double.
Mangakahia notched her third 20-point game of the season, shooting 6-for-15 from the field. The Australia native knocked down seven free throws and is shooting .851 from the charity stripe this season, one of just two Orange shooting above .800 at the free throw line.
TWEET OF THE GAME
"They competed at a high level," said head coach Quentin Hillsman. "I was really happy with their effort and the way we played that game. Our kids fought hard and they played well but, at the end of the day, these are the games that we need to win to stay at an elite level."
UP NEXT
Following tomorrow's contest against UNLV, the Orange travel to South Bend, Ind. to open conference play against No. 2 Notre Dame. The game will air on ACC Network Extra and can be heard on Syracuse IMG Sports Network.
For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /CuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
Â
'Cuse looks to bounce back when it takes on UNLV in the final game of the Duel in the Desert tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. PST. The game will air on FloHoops and can be heard on ESPN 97.7 or Cuse.TV.
HOW IT WAS DECIDED
The Orange hung with the Bulldogs through much of the first quarter, taking a 7-6 lead at the 4:33 mark off a drive to the rim by sophomore Tiana Mangakahia. The teams traded the lead over the next couple of minutes until a 3-pointer by Blair Schaefer set the Bulldogs on a 5-0 run. Cooper came through for the Orange in the closing seconds of the first, knocking down a shot from beyond the arc to pull 'Cuse to within four at the end of the first frame.
It was all Mississippi State from there on out as the Bulldogs gradually extended their lead over the next three quarters. A pair of layups by Mangakahia and redshirt junior Miranda Drummond closed the gap to four at 6:22 in the second quarter, making it 28-24, Mississippi State.Â
Despite the offensive display by the Bulldogs, Syracuse would not go down without a fight, coming back from a 19-point deficit with 6:19 remaining in the game to face an 11-point defeat at the end of 40 minutes of action.
OF NOTE
With 22 points, Cooper has scored 20+ points in back-to-back games and notched her sixth game of the season in double-figures. She finished the night with 22 points and nine rebounds, just one board short of a double-double.
Mangakahia notched her third 20-point game of the season, shooting 6-for-15 from the field. The Australia native knocked down seven free throws and is shooting .851 from the charity stripe this season, one of just two Orange shooting above .800 at the free throw line.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Q'S THOUGHTSCooper cracks double-digits for the Orange!
— 'Cuse Women's Hoops (@CuseWBB) December 21, 2017
10 points, shooting 4-for-7 from the field.
30-24 Bulldogs, 4:52 Q2 pic.twitter.com/2Rmy9vY0hh
"They competed at a high level," said head coach Quentin Hillsman. "I was really happy with their effort and the way we played that game. Our kids fought hard and they played well but, at the end of the day, these are the games that we need to win to stay at an elite level."
UP NEXT
Following tomorrow's contest against UNLV, the Orange travel to South Bend, Ind. to open conference play against No. 2 Notre Dame. The game will air on ACC Network Extra and can be heard on Syracuse IMG Sports Network.
For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /CuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
Â
Team Stats
SU
MS
FG%
.387
.406
3FG%
.286
.269
FT%
.647
.773
RB
40
42
TO
15
10
STL
3
5
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballHighlights | Syracuse vs. Canisius
Wednesday, November 12
Press Conference | Syracuse vs. Canisius
Wednesday, November 12
Syracuse Women's Basketball Postgame Press Conference
Tuesday, November 11
Syracuse Women's Basketball Postgame Show
Tuesday, November 11
