Lewis Hits 1,000 in Orange Loss to Notre Dame

Sunday, February 23

South Bend, Ind.

12 pm

Syracuse University

Notre Dame

2/23/2020 2:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - It took four full quarters of basketball to decide a victor, but the day ultimately ended with Syracuse (15-12, 9-7 ACC) losing, 72-70, to Notre Dame (11-17, 6-10 ACC) Sunday afternoon in South Bend, Ind. Orange guard Kiara Lewis joined the 1,000-point club with her 24-point performance, and Gabrielle Cooper recorded back-to-back double-doubles. The loss snaps Syracuse's five-game winning streak and evens the season series at 1-1.

That's 1,000 career points for @Kiara23_ 👏 pic.twitter.com/NJRza49Fh6
— 'Cuse Hoops (@CuseWBB) February 23, 2020

"We had a great opportunity down the stretch to win the game," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "That says a lot about our kids. This one stings a bit because we needed this game to keep the streak going but now we have to go back home, regroup, and get ready for our next one."

Back-to-back double doubles for @CallMe_GiGi this week 💪 pic.twitter.com/zkm8XC3jn4
— 'Cuse Hoops (@CuseWBB) February 23, 2020

Of note:

Lewis scored her 1,000th career point in the game. She finished the day with 24 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Cooper scored 17 and grabbed 10 boards to record her second consecutive, and third career, double-double. She joins Emily Engstler as the only players to complete the back-to-back feat this season. Cooper also reached the 200-point mark of her season today.
Notre Dame opened the game on a 20-5 run that lasted 5:23 of the first quarter. Syracuse sank just one field goal during that time, a three-pointer from Lewis.
The Fighting Irish won the game primarily thanks to their strong start. ND won the first quarter, 27-11, but Syracuse went on to outscore its opponent 59-45 in the next three frames.
The loss is head coach Quentin Hillsman's 16th versus the Navy Blue and Gold.

How it happened:

The Fighting Irish came out swinging and put together a 12-3 run three minutes into the game. Digna Strautmane hit two from the charity stripe to disrupt the streak before a 10-0 run put Notre Dame ahead 23-5 with 3:43 to go. 'Cuse and ND both scored four more points before the end of the quarter to make the score 27-11 Fighting Irish.
The Orange started the second quarter rejuvenated and strung together a 10-3 run to come within 11 of the Fighting Irish, 32-21. Notre Dame stayed just out of reach from there though as the two teams went point-for-point, ND closing out the half ahead 44-31.
Lewis and Strautmane both recorded 10 points in the opening 20 minutes while Notre Dame's Sam Brunelle and Mikayla Vaughn each scored 11. The Fighting Irish shot for 52 percent in the first half and at no point trailed the Orange.
Syracuse started to chip away at Notre Dame's lead in the third quarter. 'Cuse once again went basket-for-basket until an 8-2 push six minutes into the quarter brought ND within 10 for the first time since the midpoint of the opening frame. The Irish responded with six unanswered before a 9-2 run at the end of the quarter made the scoreboard read 62-54 Notre Dame.
The Orange came alive in the final stanza and completely erased the deficit thanks to a five minute, 10-4 run. Syracuse kept the pressure on and tied the game at 70 with 1:20 to play thanks to a pair of free throws from Lewis.
The home team ultimately took the win thanks to Vaughn, who sank two from the charity stripe. The Orange put two more shots up in the dying seconds, but the chances didn't fall and Syracuse saw its winning streak snapped.

Up Next:
The Orange travel to No. 10 NC State on Thursday, Feb. 27 for their final road game of the regular season. 'Cuse returns home the following Sunday to face Boston College on Senior Day/Alumni Weekend at 4 p.m. (Regional Sports Network, YES Network in Syracuse)

To celebrate the final game under the current roof of the Carrier Dome, the first 1,500 fans to go to the backcourt marketing table at halftime will receive a tin Carrier Dome replica. Tickets for the game start at $10 for adults and $5 for youth under 12.

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