Strautmane Leads Orange in Third Straight Victory

Monday, February 19

Pittsburgh

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

(20-7, 8-6ACC)

Pittsburgh

(10-17,2-12ACC)

Syracuse

Pittsburgh

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

Strautmane Leads Orange in Third Straight Victory

2/19/2018 9:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Freshman Digna Strautmane paced the Orange with 16 points, including 10 in the third quarter, and junior Miranda Drummond added 15 in Syracuse's 62-53 win at Pittsburgh on Monday night. Strautmane also grabbed six rebounds and had two blocked shots. The victory is the 20th of the season for the Orange, marking the 10th time in head coach Quentin Hillsman's 12 seasons leading the Orange that 'Cuse has won at least 20 games. Syracuse now has nine consecutive 20-win seasons. Syracuse (20-7, 8-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) had four players score in double figures for the second time this season against Pittsburgh (10-17, 2-12). This gives Syracuse a three-game win streak as it heads to North Carolina to play the Tar Heels on Thursday night in Chapel Hill (7 pm, ACC Network Extra).

How It Was Decided
With 6:37 left in the third quarter, Drummond hit a three-point field goal to put the Orange ahead 31-30 and gave them the lead for good. Drummond's three-pointer ignited a 9-4 Syracuse run that gave it an eight point lead, 42-34, at the end of the third quarter. Strautmane paced the Orange with 10 of her 16 points in the third quarter.

The Orange used a 17-11 third quarter to open a 42-34 lead and kept Pittsburgh at bay with a 20-19 fourth quarter for the victory. Guard Tiana Mangakahia scored 10 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter with multiple drives to the basket.

Of Note
Junior guard Isis Young scored 11 points in 18 minutes and sparked the Orange early in the game with five points in a 10-0 run. It was Young's second-straight game scoring in double-figures.

Hillsman used the same starting lineup for 27th consecutive game.

Nancy Lieberman Award finalist Tiana Mangakahia was six-of-six from the free throw line to improve her team-leading FT percentage to 87.1% on the season.

Syracuse scored 10 second chance points to Pitt's three, 10 fast break points to the Panthers' four and had 11 points off the bench compared to two for Pittsburgh.

The Orange have now posted nine-consecutive 20-win seasons.

Q's Thoughts
"Our kids did a really good job of gutting this one out," said head coach Quentin Hillsman. "We've struggled on the road but I think we played hard and I really appreciate their effort. We need to continue to compete and play hard and just stay after it."

Up Next
Syracuse will face North Carolina (14-13, 4-10) on Thursday at 7 pm in Chapel Hill. The game will be available on ACC Network Extra.

The Orange return to the Carrier Dome for Senior Day on Sunday, February 25 at 2 pm. Syracuse will host Boston College in the final game of the regular season. Tickets are available online, by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office. The game will be carried on ACC Network Extra.