Orange Beat Alabama, Improve to 6-1

Thursday, November 30

Syracuse, NY

7 PM

Syracuse University

6-1,0-0ACC

Alabama

7-2,0-0SEC

Alabama

Syracuse

11/30/2023 9:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery Highlights Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

Freshman forward Alyssa Latham scored a career-high 23 points as Syracuse beat Alabama, 79-73, Thursday evening inside the JMA Wireless Dome in the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge presented by Dixie Ultra.

Latham grabbed 12 boards en route to her third double-double of the season as the Orange improve to 6-1 overall.

Fifth year guard Dyaisha Fair connected on four of her five shots from beyond the arc for 20 points in the victory while also dishing out seven assists. Junior forward Kyra Wood logged her second straight double-double, scoring 10 points while grabbing 13 rebounds.

Sarah Ashlee Barker led the Crimson Tide in scoring with 18 points.

WHEN THE GAME WAS DECIDED
Alabama mounted a comeback with an 8-0 run after back-to-back threes extended Syracuse's lead to double digits. The Crimson Tide cut the Orange lead to two points, 69-67, with 2:08 left in regulation.

Latham grabbed her fifth offensive board and made the put-back with 1:23 to go and was fouled on the shot, later sinking the free throw, to extend Syracuse's lead to five, 72-67. The Orange connected on seven of their eight free throws at the charity stripe in the final 1:04 to hold onto the win.

STARTERS SHINE
The starting five of Fair, Georgia Woolley, Latham, Alaina Rice, and Izabel Varejão were responsible for all but 11 of Syracuse's points in the win. Latham earned her third double-double of the year (23 points, 12 rebounds) with support from sophomore Kyra Wood (10 points, 13 rebounds) and Fair (20 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists).

PRODUCING IN THE PAINT
The Orange once again dominated the boards, grabbing 47 rebounds in the game. Syracuse plucked 32 defensive rebounds compared to Alabama's 15. The Orange also had 16 second-chance points and 40 of its 79 points came from inside the paint.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

Alabama became the third different first-time opponent in head coach Felisha Legette-Jack's tenure.
The Orange played its eighth different SEC school on Thursday and first game against the conference since No. 20 Texas A&M on Nov. 14, 2018, a 75-65 victory in Westchester, N.Y.
Syracuse held their opponents to less than 30 first-half points for the fifth time this season.
The Orange went 14-for-17 at the free throw line.
'Cuse had a pair of 20-point scorers for the second straight game.
Latham has at least five rebounds in all seven contests this season.
Fair dished out a season-best seven assists.

NEXT GAME
Syracuse returns to the court on Monday, Dec. 4, when it hosts Northeastern inside the JMA Wireless Dome. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. and the game will air live on ACC Network Extra.

For more on Syracuse women's basketball, follow @CuseWBB on social media.