Thanks to 29 second chance points and a 21-4 run to end the first half, the Syracuse women's basketball team defeated Coppin State 56-50 on Saturday at the Carrier Dome. Shakeya Leary had a career high 14 points for the Orange (7-3), while Iasia Hemingway added 13.
"It's been a grueling first ten games, but I'm very happy with the win," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "We had 27 turnovers, and we have to take care of the ball better, but I'm happy that we got the win."
SU shot 10-of-38 from the floor in the game, and tied a season-high 63 rebounds, five shy of the school record (68). Jeanine Manley led all Eagles scorers with 15 points on 3-of-12 shooting. Coppin State (2-7) shot 31% from the floor (18-of-59), including a 2-of-12 performance from three-point range.
With two ties and six lead changes during the first 20 minutes of play, SU scored 16 points off of 15 Coppin State turnovers. Rachel Coffey has six of Syracuse's 24 bench points on two three-point shots from the left side.
The Orange began to take control of the game midway through the first half with a 15-2 run during an eight minute span, including four points from Leary.
Coppin State began to climb back into the game coming out of the halftime break with a 9-0 run during less than three minutes, capped by a three-pointer by Jaleah Holsey to cut the deficit to 33-26.
After being held scoreless in the first half, Kayla Alexander got on the scoresheet late in the second half with six points, including back-to-back buckets with less than six minutes left in regulation.
The Eagles made it a one possession game with 1:46 left in the second half on a layup from Crystal Whittington, but Syracuse responded with a basket from Leary.
The Orange will be off until Dec. 18 against Xavier at 3:00 p.m., when SU travels to Las Vegas, Nev. for the Duel in the Desert.
**Courtesy SU Athletics**
