Lady Orange rally for 55-53 road win in Cincy

Syracuse carried a three-game winning streak into Cincinnati, but the game did not start out in SU’s favor. The Orange were able to respond though, as they turned a 19 point deficit into a two point win, beating the Bearcats, 55-53.

The Orange (20-6, 8-6) had one of their worst starts of the season, while Cincinnati jumped out to a 23-5 lead. The Bearcats were led by Shareese Ulis who made three early 3-pointers. Ulis was on fire from the start, and finished with a game-high 20 points. Kayla Cook and Jeanise Randolph also chipped in, with 13 and eight points, respectively.

Getting their first five points from the line, it took the Orange nearly 12 minutes to score from the field. Kayla Alexander finally put one in with 8:15 left in the half, to get things going for the ‘Cuse. With another basket by Shakeya Leary, the Orange cut the deficit to a 14, at 23-9. However, the Bearcats continued to fire from all angles, and Cook was hot from beyond the arc.

Still, Syracuse did not let Cincy’s 3-point barrage phase them. Down 19, the Orange came back with a 13-2 run. Carmen Tyson-Thomas knocked down back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers, and the Orange ended the half only down two, 34-32.

Alexander paced the Orange with 18 points and seven rebounds, six of which were defensive. Iasia Hemingway chipped in 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds as well.
Syracuse started the second half with the same energy it had at the end of the first. Assisted by Erica Morrow, Alexander put the Orange up 35-34 with a layup at the 16:35 mark of the second half. However, Ulis responded and put Cincinnati back in the lead with two successful free throws.

Alexander then made two jumpers in a row for the Cuse, taking back the lead and sealing it for the rest of the game.
With some help from Chanel Chisolm and Jeanise Randolph, Ulis tried again to make a comeback for her team. Cincinnati implemented a press in an effort to catch SU off guard. The Bearcats went on a 7-2 run, bringing the score to 50-48 with 4:36 left in the game.

For the next few minutes, there was little action on the board. Neither team scored again until there were 40 seconds left in the game, at which point Alexander made two free throws.

Cook again cut the Syracuse lead to two, but a costly turnover by Cincinnati gave the ball back to the Orange with less than 15 seconds remaining. Leading 53-50, Morrow made two critical baskets from the line – her first and only points of the game. Although Ulis made one final 3-pointer, the Orange had already sealed the victory.

This was the 12th straight loss for Cincinnati (8-18, 1-13). The Orange win gives Syracuse back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in women’s basketball history.
SU will conclude its home schedule when it plays host to Providence, Saturday for Senior Day at the Dome.