Orange Come Back, Top Irish in OT

Sunday, January 5

Syracuse, N.Y.

4 pm

Syracuse University

8-6,2-1ACC

Notre Dame

6-9,1-2ACC

OT 1

Notre Dame

Syracuse

1/5/2020 6:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Coach Hillsman Postgame Highlights Players Postgame Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Syracuse used a 14-3 overtime run to rally past Notre Dame, 74-63, Sunday afternoon in the Carrier Dome. The win marked head coach Quentin Hillsman's first victory over the Fighting Irish and head coach Muffet McGraw in his 14 years at the helm. The Orange previously beat UND, 84-79, March 3, 2002 in the second round of the Big East Tournament. Emily Engstler notched her seventh double double of the year after scoring 22 points with 15 boards, while Kiara Lewis scored 20+ points for the second consecutive game. Syracuse improved to 6-1 at home on the year and has won its last three Carrier Dome contests.

With the win, Syracuse has now won back-to-back overtime games at home for the first time since the 1988-89 season when 'Cuse took down Virginia Tech and Penn State. The Orange topped No. 8 Florida State 90-89 in OT Thursday.

"I'm just really happy to get the win.That's the most important thing during conference play," Hillsman said. "I thought our fans were amazing today. We really felt that energy. I thought that they were really into the game and they got us going. When we made the run, they were fantastic. So I have to give a lot of credit to our fans. Everybody appreciated them coming out.

"This is a big win for us," Hillsman added. "Every win in conference play is important and we understand that. [Kiara Lewis] was fantastic today. She played almost 43 minutes and only had three turnovers, which is tough with their ball screens. Emily [Engstler] was great too. I took her out of the game and [Associate head coach Vonn Read] said, 'You might want to bring Emily back in.' So I put her back in the game and let her finish up. I'm really happy for our team and happy for the win. What else could you ask for when you're going into a bye-week with two wins? This is exactly what you want."

The luck has run out 🍀@CoachQatSU gets his first win vs. Notre Dame as the Orange outscore the Irish 14-3 in overtime. pic.twitter.com/3zPXI6C7p4
— 'Cuse Hoops (@CuseWBB) January 5, 2020

Of Note:

Syrcuse used a 33-14 run over the course of the fourth quarter and overtime to force the comeback victory.
Kiara Lewis recorded back-to-back 20 point games, scoring 28 tonight after dropping 21 on No. 8 Florida State Thursday.
Emily Engstler made a career-best 22 points today en route to her eighth career double double. She's the first Orange to go score 20 and grab 10 rebounds since Tiana Mangakahia's triple double against North Carolina Jan. 13, 2019.
Lewis and Engslter each scoring 20 points marked the first time two Orange have completed the feat since Miranda Drummond and Gabrielle Cooper both dropped 20 at Clemson on Jan. 3, 2019. Syracuse won that contest 84-75.
Elemy Colomé made her first appearance since game three of the year vs. Albany.

.@em__baller came to play 😤

20 points & 11 rebounds with four minutes to go 👀 pic.twitter.com/gWhEAcxYxY
— 'Cuse Hoops (@CuseWBB) January 5, 2020

How it happened:

Syracuse opened with a six-point run, Amaya Finklea-Guity responsible for four of the points off a layup and two free throws. The Irish fought back and used a 6-3 push to come within three of 'Cuse, 9-6, but a 9-4 run helped the Orange extend their lead to 18-10 with just over three minutes left in the opening quarter. Both teams went point-for-point from there and closed out the opening stanza with the Orange ahead 20-16.
UND closed out the first with a trey that set up a 7-0 run and allowed them to tie things at 20 three minutes into the second quarter. Syracuse then used a pair of threes from Kiara Lewis and Emily Engstler to take a six point lead, but Notre Dame stayed on the Orange's heels and refused to trail by more than four, eventually tying the game at 31 before the halftime break.
Lewis lead 'Cuse in scoring after 20, putting up 14 points. Engstler was a few possessions away from her seventh double double of the year after scoring eight points and grabbing six boards through 15 minutes of play.
Both teams were slow to get going in the third quarter as just 13 points were scored between them in the first three minutes. The Fighting Irish used a 10-2 run to take a 45-37 lead halfway through the quarter, and then limited Syracuse to just four points in the final five minutes. Time expired in the third with UND leading 49-41, the effort led by Destinee Walker who entered the fourth with 22 points and six rebounds.
Syracuse and Notre Dame went basket-for-basket at the start of the fourth, UND leading 55-47 at the first media timeout of the quarter.
'Cuse used a 7-0 run to come back within a possession, 58-56, with three minutes to play. UND increased their lead to 60-56 off two free throws from Anaya Peoples before Lewis sank one of her own to make it a one-possession game with 34 seconds to go. Lewis struck again with seven seconds left, this time hitting a trey from the wing to tie the score a 60. UND had a chance to win it on a dangerous drive down low, but a huge block from Digna Strautmane forced overtime in the Carrier Dome.
Lewis' free throw ignited a 15-0 run for the Orange, 'Cuse taking a 69-60 with two minutes to go in OT. 'Cuse kept the pressure on and limited UND to just three more points to complete the comeback victory.

Hyman makes it a 15-0 run 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lKkeBBreo6
— 'Cuse Hoops (@CuseWBB) January 5, 2020

Up Next:
The Orange return to the hardwood Sunday, Jan. 12 when they play No. 23 Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. Tipoff on the ACC Network is set for noon.

Up Next in the Dome:
Syracuse is back home Jan. 16 to host Georgia Tech for Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Night. Tipoff on ACC Network Extra is scheduled for 7:30 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. 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.