Three-Pointers, Mangakahia Lead No. 12 Orange to Win Over North Carolina

Sunday, January 13

Syracuse, N.Y.

3 PM

Syracuse University

North Carolina

Three-Pointers, Mangakahia Lead No. 12 Orange to Win Over North Carolina

1/13/2019 5:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Orange were stroking it from beyond the arc, and guard Tiana Mangakahia was nearly unstoppable in every facet of the game on Sunday inside the Carrier Dome.

No. 12 Syracuse (14-2, 3-0 ACC) connected on a program record-breaking 12 three-pointers in the first half, and Mangakahia finished with her first career triple-double, as the Orange cruised to a 90-77 victory over North Carolina (9-8, 0-3 ACC) in the Atlantic Coast Conference home opener. It's Syracuse's eighth straight win, including the third consecutive conference victory.

"I'm just really proud of our kids," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "Being 3-0 right now in this conference is an amazing feat for us."

Guard Tiana Mangakahia did much of the heavy lifting with her season-high 34 points. She knocked down four three-point attempts in addition to dishing out a game-high 10 assists and pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds.

It's the fourth triple-double in school history, as well as the program's first ever in points, rebounds and assists. Previously, Syracuse's Cornelia Fondren finished with 12 points, 10 boards and 10 steals (2015), Chris Palombi had 20 points, 18 rebounds and 14 blocks (1984) and Martha Mogish tallied 21 points, 12 rebounds and 16 blocks (1978).

The Orange's star point guard also recorded her 800th career point and moved into 10th all-time in career assists in the program record book in Sunday's game.

"I'm glad we got her because I can tell you right now she's a tough guard," Hillsman said. "She can make shots, she plays off the bounce, she finds cutters, she finds open players and she's just an amazing point guard."

Mangakahia's hot hand helped the Orange get off to a fast start. Syracuse scored 32 points in the opening quarter, shooting 63.2 percent from the field and knocking down eight three-pointers in the period.

Syracuse held a commanding 56-37 lead at the half, thanks in part to an incredible three-point shooting performance. The Orange connected on 12 three-pointers in the first half, which broke their previous program record of 11 first-half threes (at North Carolina, Feb. 22, 2018).

While North Carolina hit its stride in the second half and outscored the Orange by a 40-34 margin, it was too little too late. Syracuse's first-half edge proved to be insurmountable, and the Orange won comfortably with a 13-point cushion.

Forwards Digna Strautmane and Miranda Drummond were the Orange's only other double-digit scorers, finishing with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Drummond hit three three-pointers and nabbed four steals.

The Orange's starting lineup accounted for 75 of the team's 90 points. Guard Kiara Lewis came off the bench and had six points, while guard Emily Engstler scored five in 21 minutes of action.

Syracuse is on the road for its next two games. The Orange play at Pitt on Thursday, Jan. 17 before closing the road trip at Georgia Tech on Sunday, Jan. 20.

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