Thursday, January 4
Syracuse, N.Y.
7:00 p.m.
Syracuse University
13-3, 1-2
88
vs
77
Georgia Tech
12-4, 1-2
1
2
3
4
F
Georgia Tech
21
17
22
17
77
Syracuse
18
22
24
24
88
Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
Orange Claim First ACC Win Behind Mangakahia’s 44 Points
1/4/2018 10:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse women's basketball team (13-3, 1-2) earned its first Atlantic Coast Conference win of the season with an 88-77 victory over Georgia Tech (12-4, 1-2) inside the Carrier Dome on Thursday night. Sophomore Tiana Mangakahia posted a career-high 44 points, second-most by any Syracuse player in Carrier Dome history.
HOW IT WAS DECIDED
Georgia Tech opened things up with a 3-point basket but the Orange evened things with a trey by Miranda Drummond on the next possession. Syracuse found itself in an 11-point deficit, 19-8, with three minutes remaining in the opening quarter but a 10-2 run by 'Cuse made it 21-18 at the buzzer. Mangakahia led the Orange with eight points while Drummond added six points, going 2-for-3 from behind the arc.
Two minutes into the second quarter Syracuse took its first lead of the game, 24-23, with the help of a Mangakahia jumper. Back-to-back 3-pointers in opposite corners by redshirt senior Jasmine Nwajei put 'Cuse ahead 32-23 forcing Tech into a timeout with 6:21 remaining in the first half. The Yellow Jackets cut into Syracuse's lead bringing it to 37-34 with under two minutes remaining but the Orange held on for a two-point advantage at halftime, 40-38.
Georgia Tech tied things up, 45-all, at the six-minute mark in the third quarter. The two teams exchanged back-and-forth baskets throughout the frame but 'Cuse held a 64-60 lead at the end of the frame. Mangakahia led all scorers with 16 points in the quarter to surpass her previous career-high of 29 points.
Syracuse held a five-point lead, 73-68, with just over five minutes to play. A pair of free throws by Mangakahia at 5:03 pushed her point total over 40 points becoming the second member of the Orange to do so in consecutive seasons as Alexis Peterson had a 45-point performance versus NC State on Jan. 12, 2017. Drummond made a pair of free throws with 17 seconds remaining putting 'Cuse ahead 85-77 securing the victory.
OF NOTE
Mangakahia posted career-highs in both points (44) and free throws made (20-for-21). Her 44 points marked the second-most points scored by an Orange, men's or women's, in Carrier Dome history. She finished one-point shy of the program's single-game record set by Alexis Peterson on Jan. 12, 2017.
The Orange had its fifth 80-plus point game this season and first since defeating Stony Brook, 81-70, in overtime on Dec. 3, 2017.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Q'S THOUGHTS
"It was a very hard fought game by our team. I was really happy that we responded," said head coach Quentin Hillsman. "When you play against a team that is going to play you physical and is going to contest every shot, contest every rebound and make you rebound and traffic. They tested our kids will."
UP NEXT
The Orange return to the Carrier Dome to host No. 11/12 Florida State (14-1, 2-0) Sunday, Jan. 7 for the annual Doggy Day at the Dome. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.
For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /SyracuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram, and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
HOW IT WAS DECIDED
Georgia Tech opened things up with a 3-point basket but the Orange evened things with a trey by Miranda Drummond on the next possession. Syracuse found itself in an 11-point deficit, 19-8, with three minutes remaining in the opening quarter but a 10-2 run by 'Cuse made it 21-18 at the buzzer. Mangakahia led the Orange with eight points while Drummond added six points, going 2-for-3 from behind the arc.
Two minutes into the second quarter Syracuse took its first lead of the game, 24-23, with the help of a Mangakahia jumper. Back-to-back 3-pointers in opposite corners by redshirt senior Jasmine Nwajei put 'Cuse ahead 32-23 forcing Tech into a timeout with 6:21 remaining in the first half. The Yellow Jackets cut into Syracuse's lead bringing it to 37-34 with under two minutes remaining but the Orange held on for a two-point advantage at halftime, 40-38.
Georgia Tech tied things up, 45-all, at the six-minute mark in the third quarter. The two teams exchanged back-and-forth baskets throughout the frame but 'Cuse held a 64-60 lead at the end of the frame. Mangakahia led all scorers with 16 points in the quarter to surpass her previous career-high of 29 points.
Syracuse held a five-point lead, 73-68, with just over five minutes to play. A pair of free throws by Mangakahia at 5:03 pushed her point total over 40 points becoming the second member of the Orange to do so in consecutive seasons as Alexis Peterson had a 45-point performance versus NC State on Jan. 12, 2017. Drummond made a pair of free throws with 17 seconds remaining putting 'Cuse ahead 85-77 securing the victory.
OF NOTE
Mangakahia posted career-highs in both points (44) and free throws made (20-for-21). Her 44 points marked the second-most points scored by an Orange, men's or women's, in Carrier Dome history. She finished one-point shy of the program's single-game record set by Alexis Peterson on Jan. 12, 2017.
The Orange had its fifth 80-plus point game this season and first since defeating Stony Brook, 81-70, in overtime on Dec. 3, 2017.
TWEET OF THE GAME
??????
— 'Cuse Women's Hoops (@CuseWBB) January 5, 2018
Tiana Mangakahia drops 44 for the second-most points by a 'Cuse player in Carrier Dome history. pic.twitter.com/4HKS6psnse
Q'S THOUGHTS
"It was a very hard fought game by our team. I was really happy that we responded," said head coach Quentin Hillsman. "When you play against a team that is going to play you physical and is going to contest every shot, contest every rebound and make you rebound and traffic. They tested our kids will."
UP NEXT
The Orange return to the Carrier Dome to host No. 11/12 Florida State (14-1, 2-0) Sunday, Jan. 7 for the annual Doggy Day at the Dome. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.
For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /SyracuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram, and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
Team Stats
GT
SU
FG%
.500
.482
3FG%
.467
.333
FT%
.593
.875
RB
30
30
TO
19
18
STL
10
6
Game Leaders
Pts
44
FGM
12
3FGM
0
FTM
20
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballHighlights | Syracuse vs. Virginia
Sunday, January 11
Postgame Press Conference | Syracuse vs. Virginia Tech
Friday, January 09
Syracuse Women's Basketball Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, January 08
Highlights | Syracuse vs. Virginia Tech
Thursday, January 08
