brianna butler

March 23, 2015 - 2:24am
SU struggled from the field and could not overcome a balanced attack from the top-seeded Gamecocks.

For the second-straight season, Syracuse reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament thanks to a tight victory over Nebraska on Friday.

But that would once again be as far as the Orange could surge.

Despite hanging with South Carolina earlier in the season, SU fell behind early and never recovered in a 97-68 drubbing at the hands of the top-seeded Gamecocks. The Orange finishes the 2014-15 season with an overall record of 22-10.

February 14, 2015 - 11:21am
Briana Day struggled in the paint as Miami dominated with close-range buckets.

Less than a minute into Syracuse’s game against Miami, Orange forward Briana Day turned the ball over, giving Suriya McGuire an easy layup. While they were only the first two points in the paint of the game for the Hurricanes (17-7, 7-4 ACC), the Orange couldn’t find a way to stop them from adding more down low.  

Miami finished the game with 44 points in the paint en route to its 85-71 win over Syracuse (17-8, 7-5) on Thursday night at the Carrier Dome. 

February 8, 2015 - 2:37pm
The win is SU's first over a ranked opponent this season.

Syracuse made only 27.3 percent of its field goals. It committed 16 turnovers, with 10 in the first half alone. It trailed its opponent in rebounds, blocks and nearly ever relevant shooting category. 

None of that mattered. 

When the final buzzer sounded in the Carrier Dome, the Orange came out victorious. More importantly, it could finally claim a win over a ranked opponent following seven failures. 

January 26, 2015 - 10:52am
The point guard scored 27 points as the Orange launched a furious second-half run to pull away.

With his team shooting a paltry 24 percent from the field and failing to make the necessary hustle plays, Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman told his club at halftime to show more urgency. 

Consider the message received. 

Led by Alexis Peterson’s 27 points and a big double-double from Briana Day, No. 23/22 Syracuse (15-5, 5-2) came out of the Carrier Dome locker room with a newfound swagger and intensity, blitzing North Carolina State (12-8, 3-4) with a 23-0 run en route to its fifth-straight victory Sunday night, 66-49. 

December 5, 2014 - 4:39pm
The sophomore led the team with 15 points as SU cruised to another non-conference win.

Despite a shaky start and a horrendous shooting performance, No. 21 Syracuse (6-1) made easy work of unranked Penn State (1-6) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, defeating the Lady Lions 61-39 at the Carrier Dome on Thursday night. 

Sophomore forward Briana Day led the Orange with 15 points, 13 of which came in the first half, and helped build a sizable lead that remained largely unchallenged for the majority of the game. 

November 14, 2014 - 2:47pm
As the junior continues to recover from a torn ACL, SU will rely on its improved depth to compete in the ACC.

After Syracuse guard Brittney Sykes suffered a torn ACL in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season, one of the first people she spoke to was teammate Maggie Morrison

Morrison, a senior transfer from Vanderbilt, previously tore her ACL when she was a freshman playing for the Commodores.   

“I would never wish that injury on anybody,” Morrison said. “It’s not something that’s easy to go through.” 

February 14, 2014 - 12:50am
The Seminoles' Natasha Howard scored a school-record 40 points as the Orange lost its second straight game Thursday night.

Even after Syracuse (17-6, 6-6 ACC) lost by 37 points to Notre Dame on Feb. 9, the Orange looked to be in prime position for a run at a tournament birth with soft schedule ahead. But after another blowout loss, this time at home against Florida State, it’ll be hard not to rethink that idea now.

January 26, 2014 - 7:11pm
Syracuse used a big run late in the first half that propelled it to an even bigger and turnover-free second half.

Syracuse women’s basketball team started its contest against the University of Virginia looking frustrated and flustered. After coming into the game ranked 17th in the nation in turnover differential, the team lost possession 16 times while only forcing seven turnovers.

But, with the score 33-29 and around three minutes to go, Syracuse went on an 11-2 run to end the half, taking the lead and battling through for a 84-75 victory. The win brought Syracuse to 15-5 on the season, and 4-3 in the ACC.

January 17, 2014 - 3:32pm
A lack of offensive and propensity for turnovers were too much for the Orange to overcome, falling to No. 6 Maryland.

No. 6 Maryland (15-1, 3-0 ACC) defeated Syracuse 77-62 (12-5, 1-3) Thursday night in College Park, M.d. to hand the Orange it’s third loss in ACC play and it’s third road loss.

Syracuse hasn’t won a road game since Nov. 30 at the Paradise Jam, and its struggles continued against No. 6 Maryland after a series of offensive droughts and turnovers plagued the Orange

January 12, 2014 - 6:45pm
The usual suspects -- sophomores Brianna Butler and Brittney Sykes -- propelled the Orange to victory, but the play of freshman Alexis Peterson helped secure the win.

After an embarrassing 33-point home loss to Duke last week, coach Quentin Hillsman wanted to know if his team was tough enough to survive in the rugged ACC. On Sunday against Georgia Tech, he found his answer.