Three Straight: Orange Top Tar Heels in Chapel Hill

Thursday, February 13

Chapel Hill, NC

7 pm

Syracuse University

North Carolina

Three Straight: Orange Top Tar Heels in Chapel Hill

2/13/2020 9:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Highlights

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Orange (13-11, 7-6 ACC) continued their winning ways Thursday night with a convincing 74-56 victory on the road against North Carolina to extend their winning streak to three games. The loss was the Tar Heels' largest margin of defeat this season and extended Syracuse's winning streak against them to five games. Emily Engstler recorded her ninth double-double of the season in the victory.

"We needed this win," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "This is the part of the year where every one of these games matter and we talked about that before tonight. Our defense was really good tonight and we just have to stay after it. We got our press and made shots like we needed to. Now we just need to stay focused and keep winning these games."

Of Note:

Emily Engstler came out ready to play. The sophomore was just one rebound shy of her ninth double-double of the season after 19 minutes on the court. She grabbed that board four minutes into the third. Engslter ended the night with 16 points and 15 rebounds in 36 minutes.
The Orange shot 38.7 percent from beyond the three-point line, just shy of the team's season-best, and tied for a season-best 10 blocks. Syracuse's defense also held UNC to 29.2 from the field.
A total team victory, 'Cuse held the lead for just under 33 minutes and registered 18 bench points while limiting UNC to just four.
A trio of Orange surpassed 15 points tonight in Engstler, Kiara Lewis (17) and Digna Strautmane (17).
Syracuse sank 12 treys tonight, marking the first time in the new year that the team's hit 10 or more in a single game.

How it happened:

Syracuse gave up the opening four points before using a 7-2 run to go up 9-6 midway through the first quarter. Some back and fourth play commenced from there to eventually close the opening frame with Syracuse ahead 17-16. Syracuse's last six points kicked off a 13-2 run that put the Orange ahead 26-16 halfway through the second quarter. Engstler paced the Orange lineup with seven points in the opening 10 minutes.
Syracuse didn't allow a UNC basket for the first five minutes of the second quarter and went on to surrender just two field goals and three free throws in the period. Engstler was the first player to hit 10 points in the game, the sophomore finishing a board shy of a double-double before halftime.
The Orange handedly controlled the game in the third quarter and stayed ahead by 10 for most of the frame. A 10-0 run put 'Cuse ahead 58-36 with 1:30 until the fourth, and the Orange had three players in double digits.
The Tar Heels found a spark and strung together an 11-5 push to start the final stanza but it was for not as 'Cuse still led 65-51. The Orange would go on to give up just five more points while adding another nine to take the victory.

Up Next:
The Orange return to the Carrier Dome Sunday, Feb. 16 to host Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. (RSN). It's Play4Kay Day and Team Day in the Dome where those affected by breast cancer will be recognized on the court at halftime. Fans can email athmkt02@syr.edu for more information on how to be part of the ceremony. Pink t-shirts will be available to the first 100 students, and the first 500 fans in attendance will receive pink Syracuse rally towels.

Now is the time to make a pledge for the Play4Kay National Free Throw Challenge. Syracuse is competing against other women's basketball teams across the country to see who can raise the most money for those battling cancer.

There is a special $5 ticket offer for Sunday's game to celebrate the Orange's last home win over No. 5 Louisville last Sunday. It was the first home win over a top-5 opponent since 1996 and first in Carrier Dome history. Additionally, before tip-off Syracuse Head Coach Quentin Hillsman will be recognized for his 300th career win.

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