Women's basketball: Sykes out for remainder of season

No. 21 Syracuse, off to a 10-4 start, will be without star guard Brittney Sykes for the rest of the season, according to a release by Syracuse Athletics on Tuesday. 

Sykes, who left Sunday’s game against No. 4 Notre Dame, re-aggravated her surgically repaired ACL after originally tearing it last March in the first round of the NCAA tournament. She made her season debut on Dec. 28 and played in only three games this season. 

"It was an unfortunate injury," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "I am confident Brittney is going to do everything she can to return to the court at 100 percent. She will have the complete support of every person in this program in that process." 

The Orange was eager to have Sykes, who supplied just shy of 17 points per game last season, back on the court. With the junior sidelined, the team will look to maintain a balanced scoring attack, as four players currently average double figures. 

A silver lining for the Orange is the emergence of sophomore guard Alexis Peterson, who has done her part to fill the offensive void. Peterson has started all 14 games (compared to three last season) for the Orange and leads SU with 13.8 points per game. 

The Orange will continue ACC play on Thursday in Durham, N.C., as it takes on the No. 13 Duke Blue Devils.