SYRACUSE - -/rv Syracuse (6-0) turned in one of its most dominating defensive performances of the season defeating Delaware State (1-5), 87-17 on Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome. The Orange held the Hornets to 14 percent shooting from the floor, including 3.6 percent in the second half to improve to 6-0 for the second-straight season. The 17 points allowed marked a program-record for fewest allowed. Sophomore guard Carmen Tyson-Thomas led the way for the Orange with 15 points and nine rebounds while classmate Elashier Hall also netted 15. Redshirt freshman forward Shakeya Leary rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points while adding a game-high tying nine rebounds. Senior guards Erica Morrow and Tasha Harris directed the offense, dishing out five and four assists, respectively. Sophomore center Kayla Alexander helped guide the Orange to a 53-30 advantage in rebounding and a 42-10 edge in points in the paint. Alexander paired eight rebounds with nine assists while adding a career-best nine blocks.
After trading baskets to a 5-5 tie, Syracuse used a 32-2 run to go up, 31-7, with 7:43 remaining in the first half. Tyson-Thomas propelled the run with seven points while the Orange held the Hornets without a basket for more than four minutes in the stretch. The Orange outscored the Hornets, 13-3, through the final 4:16 of the first half to head into the locker room with a 49-14 advantage. The 35-point halftime lead was the largest of the season so far while the 49 points were the most scored by the hosts in a first half. The Syracuse defense stifled Delaware State out of the intermission, holding the Hornets without a field goal for almost the entirety of the second half before the guests broke through with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation. The Orange outscored the guest 38-3 in the second half to cruise to an 87-17 victory. Syracuse returns to the Dome to host in-state foe Albany on Monday, December 6 at 7 p.m.
