SYRACUSE STEAMROLLS PENN STATE

 Story and photo by Robert Magobet

Syracuse, N.Y. - Briana Day and Brianna Butler led No. 21 Syracuse past Penn State 61-39, Thursday night, bringing the Orange record to 6-1 for the season.

“We just played really well on defense tonight,” Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman said.  "I thought our balance was great. We had a very good game plan going into this game. It’s probably the most time to prep for a game in a long time.”

Rebounding:

Syracuse outrebounded a taller Penn State (1-5) team on the interior, with a total of 51 rebounds to Penn State’s 43.

Briana Day led the way with 15 points 13 total rebounds and 6 blocks.  A big reason why the Orange outrebounded Penn State was because Day contributed 7 offensive rebounds.

“Just playing hard and having will,” Day said.  “Who wants it more? And I think that’s what I had to do. I have to get the rebound. I know I am an undersized post," said Day, who is listed at 6'4". Penn State's centers are 6'5" and 6'6". "But I can’t let that not make me play hard. So I have to keep playing regardless of the size. I think I’m just as big as them in my heart.”

Day quickly set the tone in the first half by snatching an offensive rebound off a missed jump shot from point guard Alexis Peterson. She established position and muscled up her shot but got fouled by Penn State’s Kaliyah Mitchell with 17:50 left in the first half.

Day converted both free throws making the score 5-4 Syracuse—this play was a microcosm for the entire game.

Shooting:

While the percentage on shooting three-pointers (17.5) was not strong, the total scored by Syracuse caused problems for Penn State. Syracuse’s Brianna Butler went 4-of-19 from downtown. She went 5-of-20 overall contributing 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

“Definitely when you are playing a zone you are able to shoot more from the perimeter,” Butler said. “Also my teammates were able to set me up to shoot from the perimeter. And as coach said earlier he is always pushing us to shoot, he is never telling you it is a bad shot. Any shot you can have take it.”

The largest lead in the game for Syracuse was 22 points thanks to Day and Butler, but Penn State cut the lead to 14 and 15 points in the second half. However, Butler stroked a three pointer from the corner with 4:13 left in the second half making the score 56-38 and changing the momentum back to Syracuse’s favor.

“We go into every game plan with an intent to win,” Butler said. “Whenever we are playing the game no matter if we are down or up by a lot we always have an intent to finish the game strong. So we never really have doubt in our mind that we are not going to win a game.”

Defense:

The game was relatively close in the first half. Penn State trailed just17-15 before Syracuse revved up defensively.

The Orange women used their feet in zone defenses to stay in front of the Penn State offense forcing the Lady Lions to take rushed shots near the end of the shot clock. They also used traps six feet behind Penn State’s 3-point line to force 20 turnovers.

If guards came to the lane Day was there for a blocked shot. She clogged the middle with force as the bigs Kaliyah Mitchell, Tori Waldner, Candice Agee and Jenny DeGraaf for Penn State recorded 18 points total.

“Our defense is really good,” Hillsman said. “I’m happy to get the win. Penn State is a really good basketball team.”

Penn State:

Lindsey Spann of Penn State tried to fuel a furious comeback. Down 49-27 she scored 8 straight points that included a three-pointer. This made the score 49-35 with 7:30 left in the second half. Spann contributed 11 points, 3 assists but 6 turnovers.

“I think we had a lot of intensity,” Spann said. “Our defense led to our rebounding. We got out in transition. And I think that helped us get stops and score opportunities.”

However, Syracuse ended the game on a 12-4 run ignited by guard Cornelia Fondren who finished the game with a double double contributing 10 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. This sealed the deal.

Next Up:

Next up Syracuse hosts the North Carolina Central Eagles (2-4) on December 14th.

“We gone get up off our feet and get some rest,” Hillsman said. “We have our system in place. “ We just got to get ourselves together. But I’m tired. So I know they are tired”