Nicole Michael
/ file photo
PITTSBURGH, PA -- Senior forward Nicole Michael became Syracuse’s all-time leading scorer as the Syracuse University women’s basketball team (17-5, 4-5) defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers (12-9, 1-7), 87-80, in overtime on Tuesday evening. Michael led the Orange with 27 points to increase her career points total to 1,614 and surpass former SU standout Julie McBride, who previously held the record with 1,605 points. Michael also led the team with 10 rebounds against the Panthers for her 27th career double-double and fifth this season.
“The most important thing was we got into a close one and really executed,” said head coach Quentin Hillsman. “(Nicole Michael) was huge tonight. She played big and played big minutes for us and that’s what you ask for from your best player.”
Freshman guard Carmen Tyson-Thomas backed Michael with a career-high 12 points and career-best five steals, while senior forwards Vionca Murray and Juanita Ward scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Orange jumped out to a 4-2 lead less than two minutes into the game, but Pitt went on 12-0 run to make the score 14-4 with 16:00 on the clock. The Panthers did not allow any Syracuse points for nearly three minutes until freshman center Kayla Alexander drew the foul and connected on two free-throws to begin to cut into the Pitt lead. A Michael 3-pointer helped SU creep within two, 17-15, with 13:44 remaining before the break and the Panthers maintained at least a two-point lead until 10:13 when a layup by Ward gave the Orange its first lead, 23-21, since the opening minutes of the game.
The two teams continued to match each other’s scoring, tying it up three times, before back-to-back 3-points from Pitt’s Brittaney Thomas gave the Panthers the 33-27 advantage with 4:42 left before the half. Pittsburgh stretched its lead back out to seven, 40-33, with less than two minutes remaining, but Tyson-Thomas narrowed the margin, 40-36, with 1:32 left. Tyson-Thomas had a chance to cut it down to a two-point game and did so courtesy of consecutive freebies, but the Panthers hit one last basket before time expired to hold the 42-38 halftime lead.
The second half began a free-throw shooting battle as Pitt’s first five points came from the charity stripe, while the Orange kept it close with three 3-pointers, including one by junior guard Tasha Harris at the 15:28 mark to give Syracuse the 49-47 edge. Michael extended the lead with a layup, but Pitt stayed on SU’s heels, 51-50, before facing its largest deficit of the night, 55-50, following a fast-break layup by Tyson-Thomas with less than 13 minutes left.
The Panthers knotted it at 55-55 two minutes later, but the Orange regained the lead on a bucket from freshman guard Elashier Hall at 10:14. Pitt tied it up two more times before pulling ahead once again on a 3-ball by Shayla Scott at 7:34, but Syracuse was quick to respond and evened the scoring, 69-69, when Michael made a layup at 3:52. Pitt pulled ahead once again, but Michael became SU’s all-time leading scorer on a layup in the final 30 seconds to tie the game and force the overtime.
The Orange took the lead for good in overtime, beginning with a bucket by Murray within the first minute. Murray accounted for SU’s first five points of the extra period to make the score 77-74 with less than three minutes left. Michael added two buckets, while Morrow iced two free-throws to add to the Syracuse lead, 83-78. The Panthers attempted to overcome the deficit, but the Orange continued to pull ahead and held on for the 87-70 victory.
The Orange returns to the Carrier Dome to host Marquette on Saturday, February 6 at 2 p.m.
Courtesy: SU Athletics
