The Orange crushes Pitt on Senior Day

Photo by Rilwan Ameen

Story and Videos by Kayla Chadwick

The Carrier Dome was the place to be this afternoon for the last Syracuse women's basketball home game of the regular season, and the players' friends and families were treated to a commanding win by the Orange.

The first half of this Senior Day matchup was all about the Syracuse defense, as it held the Panthers scoreless from the floor for the first 18 minutes, until Pitt freshman Chelsea Welch knocked down a three-pointer.

Sophomore Guard Brittney Sykes said the Orange didn't realize just how effective its defensive efforts had been: "But we did realize they were shooting from the field and they were missing them, and we were fighting for rebounds... But as for knowing they were one for 22, you wouldn't really know."

Despite Welch's last minute heroics to close out the half, Pitt went into halftime trailing Syracuse by 15 points (26-11). Syracuse helped its cause by keeping the pressure on the Panthers, inducing multiple shot clock violations, and staying aggressive under the basket.

In the second half, Pitt came out seemingly determined to turn things around. Panthers junior Brianna Kiesel scored a three-pointer just seconds after retaking the court - but Syracuse answered on its very next possession with a three from Brianna Butler. Despite allowing the Panthers to score more frequently in the second half than the first, the Orange would continue to control the pace of game.

In a game where13 Syracuse players saw playing time, and nine scored for the Orange, Brianna Butler led the charge, scoring 16 points - including four three-pointers. Other top scorers included Briana Day (14 points), Brittney Sykes (10 points), Shakeya Leary and La'Shay Taft (7 points each).

Syracuse never trailed, keeping a commanding lead throughout the game, and defeating Pitt by a final score of 67-36.

It was the last regular season home game for seniors Rachel Coffey, Taft, Phylesha Bullard, and Leary, but the Orange have a solid core of young talent ready to carry the torch into next season and beyond. "It's very nice to see the sophomores and freshman [step up]," Coffey said. "It opens up the future."

After the game, Coach Quentin Hillsman praised his players for their win-first attitude: "I don't know how they do it, because as a player, I wouldn't know how to do it. They're just very unselfish players, and they want to win."

But Hillsman isn't content with blowing out Pitt for the final regular season home game, "We just have to get there and win this last game," he said. The Orange will head to North Carolina next Sunday to take on Wake Forest in the last ACC matchup before the tournament.

Watch the postgame remarks from Coach Hillsman, Brianna Butler, Sykes, and Coffey here.