Orange’s Quest Falls Just Short Against Florida State Titans

Sophie Burrows achieved her initial career double-double with 14 points and a personal-best 10 rebounds, yet the Syracuse women’s basketball team (6-8, 0-3 ACC) faced a challenging defeat against Florida State (13-2, 3-0 ACC), 85-73, on Sunday at Donald Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida.

HOW IT TRANSPIRING

The Orange established an early lead of 9-4, but Florida State countered with a 12-0 streak to seize control. The Seminoles maintained their lead for the duration of the first quarter, concluding the period with a 21-15 advantage.

The Orange ignited a 9-0 run halfway through the second quarter, taking a one-point edge at the 5:30 mark. Madeline Potts propelled the momentum with consecutive three-pointers, aiding Syracuse in regaining the lead. ‘Cuse preserved their push, outscoring Florida State 9-7 in the remaining minutes of the quarter, heading into halftime with a 35-32 lead.

Lead changes occurred early in the third quarter, but Florida State finished the period on an 11-4 run, entering the final quarter with an eight-point lead.

Syracuse made a vigorous effort in the last 10 minutes, narrowing the gap to as little as five points with a 9-0 run. Nonetheless, Florida State resisted the late rally, clinching a victory at 85-73.

BURROWS IGNITES FOURTH QUARTER

In a noteworthy performance marking her first career double-double, Burrows excelled late in the contest, netting 10 of her 14 total points in the last 10 minutes to energize the Orange’s comeback effort. During this period, the sophomore converted 4-of-5 (80 percent) attempts from the floor.

The native of Victoria, Australia, registered a career-high rebounding outing against the Seminoles, grabbing 10 rebounds, surpassing her previous top of eight. Nine of her 10 boards were secured defensively.

ASSISTING ANGELICA

Angelica Velez had a career night in assists, achieving 10 assists off the bench, establishing a new personal best. The guard now totals 39 assists for the season, ranking third on the team.

Dominique Camp, who also recorded 10 assists on December 21 in a victory over Dartmouth.

BENCH DELIVERS STRONG PERFORMANCE

The Orange’s non-starters produced another commendable performance in the loss, led by Journey Thompson and Potts, who contributed 13 and 11 points, respectively. The bench totaled 28 points, outpacing Florida State’s bench by seven points.

The reserve players’ efforts shone through in the second quarter, propelling Syracuse back into the lead. The non-starters contributed to 15 of the team’s 20 points in that period, establishing a three-point lead at halftime.

POINTS OF INTEREST

• Georgia Woolley achieved her 11^th double-digit scoring game of the season, ending the match with 12 points, highlighted by a flawless 7-of-7 performance from the free throw line.
• Saniaa Wilson made her inaugural start of the season and 10^th of her career against FSU. The forward contributed eight points and six rebounds throughout the game.
• Despite being without the team’s leading rebounder in Kyra Wood, ‘Cuse managed to outrebound the Seminoles, 44-43, despite the loss.
• The ‘Cuse defense successfully restricted a Florida State offense that generally averages 95.6 points per game to a mere 85 points during the contest, which is 10 points beneath the Seminoles’ average.
• The loss positions Syracuse at 6-8 for the season.
• The Orange now hold a record of 6-8 in the historical series against the Seminoles.

UP NEXT
The Orange will return to the JMA Wireless Dome for their initial home game of the new year on Thursday, January 9, for the program’s School Day matchup. The tip-off is anticipated at 10:30 a.m. on ACC Network Extra.

Tickets for all Syracuse women’s basketball matches are available for purchase now. Fans can acquire tickets by visiting cuse.com/tickets or by calling the JMA Wireless Dome Box Office at 888-DOME-TIX.

For further updates on the Syracuse women’s basketball team, follow @CuseWBB on social media.