Any concerns that the Syracuse Orange (17-4, 7-3) women’s basketball team might struggle after the tough overtime loss to North Carolina were quickly erased last night. The Orange jumped on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-13, 4-6) right from the opening tip on their way to a 94-70 blowout win in the Dome.
Lelia Phelia hit a 3 just 7 seconds into the game for a lead that the Orange would not relinquish the rest of the way. Last weekend, Miami scored the first 9 points in the Dome and last night the Syracuse women did the same to Georgia Tech. It was 18-8 Syracuse at the end of the first and the Orange stretched their lead to 40-23 at the half and were able to cruise home.
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Phelia led Syracuse with 23 points and 7 steals. Dominique Darius added 20 points and Uche Izoje had 17 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks. The Orange shot 53% from the field, 67% from 3 and 82% from the foul line in their best offensive performance in ACC play.
Both teams came out firing in the 3rd quarter and Georgia Tech ended up surpassing their first half total with 28 points….and the Syracuse lead still grew as they scored 31. It was the dominance in the paint that helped pave the way as the Orange scored 54 points in the paint on the night.
Syracuse was able to get the bench lots of time in the final quarter. Justus Fitzgerald was back on the floor after missing the last month due to injury. Aurora Almón and Jasmyn Cooper were the only Orange players who didn’t make a shot last night.
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The Orange who were an 8 seed in ESPN’s latest Bracketology will head to Miami for a Sunday afternoon game against the Hurricanes. Tip is 2:00 on ACCNX.
