Orange Top #19 Spartans 77-63 in Sunshine Classic Opener

Friday, December 20

Winter Park, Fla.

1:30 pm

Syracuse University

6-4,0-0ACC

Michigan State

7-3,0-0Big Ten

Syracuse

Michigan St.

Orange Top #19 Spartans 77-63 in Sunshine Classic Opener

12/20/2019 3:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

WINTER PARK, Fla. - A dominant outing by senior Gabrielle Cooper gave Syracuse its first win of the Florida Sunshine Classic as the Orange cruised by No. 19/23 Michigan State, 77-63. Cooper paced the 'Cuse squad with a season-best 19 points and was aided by sophomore Emily Engstler recording her sixth double-double of the year. Syracuse is now 2-1 all-time against Michigan State, winning each of the last two contests.

"We knew we had to come in here and play a great basketball team," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "Michigan State's a great team and they played well. We knew we had to come in here against a ranked team and our kids did well. They had a really great effort and I'm proud of them."

Of Note:

For the fourth-straight game dating back to Nov. 30 vs Green Bay, four Orange players hit double-digits in scoring.
Cooper was the first player to reach double-digits, recording 11 points in the opening stanza. Her 19 points on the night were a season-best.
Engstler was a point shy of her sixth double-double of the year after 20 minutes, recording nine points and 10 rebounds in 17 minutes of play. She safely reached a double double two minutes into the third and finished with a career-best 17 rebounds.
Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. Her six-made were a career high.

How it happened:

Syracuse took an early 15-6 lead halfway through the first quarter, with MSU scoring just a pair of jumpers in the opening seven minutes. An 11-0 run ballooned the Orange's lead to 20-6 before the Spartan's Nia Clouden knocked down two from the charity stripe. A strong effort in the final three minutes gave 'Cuse a healthy 27-10 advantage. Engstler was a monster on the glass, grabbing eight rebounds in the first quarter.
Michigan State worked an 8-2 run to bring the Spartan's score to 18 moments into the second, but their effort wasn't enough to cool Syracuse's shooters who continued to score throughout the quarter. MSU closed the second frame on a 10-6 run to bring the score within eight for the first time since the five-minute mark of the first stanza. 'Cuse carried a 38-30 lead into the locker room.
Djadi-Tabdi was a perfect 3-for-3 in the first half after sinking a jumper and a pair of layups. Clouden was the lone Spartan to break six points in the opening 20, her 14 points leading both sides. Nia Hollie had the second-most points for Michigan State with four.
MSU made it a three-point game, 38-35, after Clouden tossed in a layup and Mardrekia Cook sank a trey to open the third stanza. Engstler got her sixth double-double of the year moments later when she hit a jumper.
The third quarter went on to be all Syracuse as the Orange outscored the opposition 21-11, the effort led by Djaldi-Tabdi who added eight points. She became the Orange's leading scorer, 14 points, halfway through the period after hitting her fifth-straight field goal and putting up two more from the free throw line.
The Orange opened the final quarter with a 59-46 lead. The Spartans came out hot with a 9-2 run to make it a one-possession game, but a 14-5 push by Syracuse in the final five minutes gave the Orange their second consecutive win against the Spartans and first win over a top-25 opponent this season.

Up Next
Syracuse closes out non-conference play at the Sunshine Classic Sunday against No. 22 West Virginia. Tip off is set for 1:30 p.m., and fans can watch live via FloHoops.com.

Up Next in the Dome:
Syracuse returns home on Jan. 2 for to host #8 Florida State for School Night in the Carrier Dome. Tip off on the ACC Network is scheduled for 8 p.m. Tickets for the game start at $10 for adults and $5 for youth under 12.

Syracuse season tickets start at $75 and are available for sale by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) or at The Box Office at the Ensley Athletic Center, which will operate extended hours on Mondays, from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm, and will be open Tuesday through Friday, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, for purchasing tickets to all Dome events. Limited Premium Courtside seats are still available and can be purchased by contacting a sales representative at 1-888-DOME-TIX.

To stay updated on the Syracuse Orange women's basketball team, follow @CuseWBB on Twitter and Instagram.