Five players notched double-digits to lead 23/rv Syracuse (13-2, 1-1) to a 75-50 victory against Seton Hall (7-9, 0-3) in the BIG EAST home opener on Saturday afternoon in the Carrier Dome. The win extended SU's home win streak to 12 games.
Sophomore guard Elashier Hall led all scorers with 16 points while adding four rebounds, three assists and a trio of steals. Senior guard Erica Morrow added 15 points and four boards while dishing out three assists and sophomore guard Carmen Tyson-Thomas also netted 15 points with four rebounds.
Redshirt freshman forward Shakeya Leary controlled the paint while helping the Orange outrebound the Pirates, 53-42. Leary netted a career-high tying 13 points while grabbing 19 rebounds - which ties a single-game record for the Orange this season and notched a career-high seven blocks. Junior forward Iasia Hemingway rounded out the double-digit scorers, adding 10 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
It was a defensive battle from the outset, with neither team netting a field goal through the first three minutes of play. After a pair of free throws by sophomore center Kayla Alexander, senior guard Tasha Harris connected from behind the arc to give Syracuse an early lead, 5-0, with 17 minutes left on the clock.
Seton Hall tied the score, 5-5, with 14:35 remaining and the teams traded baskets through the next three minutes with the Pirates taking a one-point lead, 13-12. Tyson-Thomas single-handedly regained the lead for the hosts, scoring seven-straight to give Syracuse a 19-13 edge with 8:44 left on the clock.
The Orange used an 11-4 run through the next four minutes to build its lead, 30-17, with 3:35 remaining in the half. SU ended the half with seven unanswered to take a 39-21 lead at the break.
Leading 49-32, Syracuse scored 10 unanswered to take a, 59-32, with 8:41 left to play. Hall propelled the run with five points while Leary had three and Morrow added a pair of free throws.
The Orange continued to drive, outscoring the Pirates 13-4 through the next three minutes, building the lead, 72-38, with 4:36 remaining in regulation. Syracuse maintained its advantage through the final four and a half minutes of play, cruising to a 75-50 win.
Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome on Tuesday, January 11 when it hosts Rutgers on CBS College Sports at 7 p.m.
Courtesy: SU Athletics
