3-Point Barrage Helps #15 Orange Down MDES

Wednesday, December 5

Syracuse, N.Y.

7 PM

Syracuse University

8-2

Maryland Eastern Shore

2-6

MD Eastern Shore

Syracuse

12/5/2018 8:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange were feeling it from deep Wednesday night inside the Carrier Dome.

No. 15/14 Syracuse drilled a season-high 16 three-pointers and had five shooters finish in double figures, cruising past Maryland Eastern Shore, 96-51. The Orange improve to 8-2 overall with the win.

"I'm really pleased with where our players are right now," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "We're in a good place. I really feel good about our effort and how hard our kids played today. This time going into finals week is going to be really good to get some rest."

It's the second straight game five Orange players have finished with double-digit points, and it's the third time the Orange have scored 90+ points this season. Forward Digna Strautmane led the team with 17 points and matched her career high with five three-pointers, while forward Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi scored 14 points and commanded the glass with a game-high nine rebounds.

It wasn't an easy start for the Orange, though.

The Shore controlled the first quarter and entered the intermission with a 24-21 lead. Sparked by Amanda Carney's 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, Maryland Eastern Shore was 52.6 percent from the floor in the quarter. Carney's teammates Ciani Byrom and Bairesha Gill-Miles each poured in six points.

It was Strautmane's hot hand that carried the Orange through the rocky first quarter. The sophomore led with nine points, matching her season high in three-pointers with three in the opening period alone to help Syracuse keep pace with The Shore's strong start.

The Orange completely flipped the script in the second quarter. Syracuse opened with a 16-2 run and connected on five three-pointers in the period, outscoring The Shore, 31-7, in the second.

Seven different shooters, led by forward Djaldi-Tabdi's eight points, chipped in points in the quarter, as the Orange turned a three-point, first-quarter deficit into a 21-point halftime lead. Guard Tiana Mangakahia scored seven of her 14 points in the quarter, while guard Kiara Lewis provided energy off the bench with two threes.

The Orange didn't let up in the second half. A 22-0 Syracuse run across the third and fourth quarter put the game well out of reach, as the Orange's lead grew to as much as 47 points in the closing minutes of regulation.

Forward Miranda Drummond scored 15 points - all of which came on three-pointers. Mangakahia, meanwhile, dished out eight assists to go along with her 14 points, and center Amaya Finklea-Guity had 14 points, her season high.

Syracuse now has 12 days to prepare for its final home game of the non-conference schedule. The Orange are set to host Niagara on Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. for School Day.