Trailing by 16 points with 9:05 left in the second half, Syracuse would cut the deficit to two points on two occasions, but could not complete the comeback as West Virginia escaped with a 76-72 win on Wednesday night at the Carrier Dome. The Orange had four players in double-figures, including 17 from Carmen Tyson-Thomas.
SU shot 20-of-58 from the floor (34.5%), and had a season-high with 31 free throws on 35 attempts (88.6%). The Mountaineers shot 41% (26-of-63), including 40 points from the bench players.
“I give my kids a lot of credit,” said head coach Quentin Hillsman. “They worked very hard, and when you come up short, it makes you want to work harder.”
West Virginia saw its lead dwindle to five following a 13-2 run by the Orange with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation, highlighted by seven points from Tyson-Thomas.
With the score 70-65 with 3:13 remaining in regulation, Jessica Harlee was whistled for a technical foul with the Orange already heading to the line for two shots. Elashier Hall would make all four free throws to cut the WVU lead to 70-68, but WVU would pull away with three straight free throws in the final 24 seconds.
A combined 25 first half turnovers between the teams gave way to 22 points off of turnovers (15 by WVU). Syracuse, which entered the double bonus after 12 first half Mountaineer fouls, chipped away at the deficit throughout the half with a 13-of-14 performance from the free throw line.
Trailing 10-6 midway through the first half, West Virginia went on an 8-0 run, capped by a three-pointer by Brooke Hampton from the right side. The Mountaineers would extend its lead to 24-17 with less than eight minutes left in the first half thanks to seven straight points from Dunning.
Syracuse began to cut into the WVU lead with less than five minutes remaining in the half as Elashier Hall spotted Kayla Alexander (14 points) below the bucket, and made a swift bounce pass down to the junior center for two.
Asya Bussie took over in the second half with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including a string of 10 straight WVU points during a three-minute span.
Shanee Williams would make it a one-possession game at 66-64 with 4:46 left in the second half when her three-point bid from the left corner rattled through the bucket, Syracuse lone three-point conversion in the game.
Syracuse will be back in action on Saturday as the Orange hosts Coppin State at 1:00 p.m.
Courtesy: SU Athletics
