Photos & Video by Rilwan Ameen
The win gave Maryland a sweep of the home-and-home series with SU, having won the first game 77-62 just over two weeks ago in College Park.
Early lead for the Orange
Syracuse (16-6, 5-4 ACC) took an 8-4 lead over the Terrapins early in the game, giving the Orange fans among the crowd of 1,312 hope they were going to see the Orange defeat another top ranked team.
But after three straight losses, Maryland Freshmen Lexie Brown and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough dashed that hope quickly, leading the Terrapins to outscore the Orange 42-21 in the rest of the half for a 46-29 advantage.
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| @ 2014 Rilwan Ameen |
"You're not going to beat a team when they shoot 69-percent from the field and you shoot in the thirties," SU Coach Quentin Hillsman said after the game."You have to come out ready to play a team whose a very good team. They're in a losing streak so they knew how important it was to get this game to stay in contention in the ACC."
Brown led the Terrapins with 31 points against the Orange, hitting seven of her eight shots from the outside including four in the second half.
Shatori Walker-Kimborough and Alyssa Thomas also had contributing roles in the Terrapin win, Walker-Kimborough put up 17 points and seven rebounds while Thomas added a double-double with 11 points and 11 boards.
Time to Adjust
With a 17-point deficit at half-time, the Orange changed defensive strategy early in the second half implementing a full court press on the Terrapins. The press led to two steals, by Taylor Ford and Brittney Sykes who scored six points in the Orange 8-0 run early in the second half.
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| @2014 Rilwan Ameen |
Sophomore guard Brittany Sykes, scoring 22 points against Maryland today, banked 15 of those 22 points in the second half trying to help her team get back in the game.
"After I realized that they weren't really getting back in transition, that was leading me to the basket," Sykes said." Getting passes from Brianna Butler and Cornelia Fondren and them giving up the ball... led to easy layups to get back in the game and transition so I knew that was going to be a big part of the game."
Brianna Butler who scored her career high 22 points, against the Tar Heels last week was unable to duplicate the effort, only putting up nine points, shooting 4-20 from the field.
"They were definitely playing a lot more aggressive and more outside the 3-point line so it created a lot more of an opportunity to drive, but I just wasn't about to connect today," said Butler after the game, explaining her ability to get to the hoop.
ACC Play
Despite the loss, the Orange is still in the top half of the ACC standings which feature six teams in the top twenty-five (#2 Notre Dame, #3 Duke, #6 Maryland, #9 North Carolina, #18 Florida State, #21 NC State) and four teams in the top ten (#2 Notre Dame, #3 Duke, #6 Maryland, and #9 North Carolina).
The experience and opportunity to face these teams has been a benefit for the Orange in their
inaugural season in the ACC, Butler said.
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| @2014 Rilwan Ameen |
"Playing these teams it preps you and it makes you realize that your playing against great competition and you'll probably see them in the NCAA tournament so you won't be blindsided by the competition. You know there is greater competition out there but to play against some of the best teams in the ACC really does prepare you."
Next Up
The Orange will host Virginia Tech on Thursday, February 6 at 7p.m at the Carrier Dome.
Video Report: http://youtu.be/8WkcTi7nLrc
Maryland Post-game Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFWfbf07NBU&feature=youtu.be
Syracuse Head Coach Quentin Hillsman Presser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snNH2bUvGxM&feature=youtu.be
Syracuse Players Presser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNBBNUQCVhM&feature=youtu.be
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