WBB: Syracuse Takes Down no. 22 MSU

By Noah Wolfe

SYRACUSE, N.Y .– Coach Q’s squad came away with a 75-64 victory over #22 Michigan State in the Carrier Dome on Wednesday night. The win concludes arguably the toughest November in school history, with Syracuse playing three nationally ranked opponents for the first time in a season’s opening month.

Senior guard Alexis Peterson led the charge for Syracuse, finishing with 27 points while shooting 48 percent from the field.  She also added five steals and four assists to round out the stat sheet.

The Orange team as a whole played dominantly, and they led 40-22 at the half.  The ladies also put on a defensive clinic, notching 20 forced turnovers at the game’s midway point.

After the game Michigan head coach Suzy Merchant admitted she was frustrated by the Syracuse press.

“We just didn’t execute against them,” she said. “We prepared by using seven guys in practice, but it clearly wasn’t enough.”

The Orange defense also managed to hold the nation’s 14th leading scorer, Tori Jankoska, to just four points in the first half while forcing her into nine turnovers over the course of the game.

Briana Day played a key role against Jankoska and the Spartans, clogging the lanes, drawing charges and logging two blocks and two steals.  On the offensive end, she put up 12 points, shooting 6-12 on the night.

With strong play from Day and Peterson, the Orange maintained a sizable lead during the second half of the game, never leading by less than nine points.

The Syracuse ladies will look to continue their winning ways in a home matchup against Central Connecticut State University on Sunday.  Tipoff is slated for 2:00.