Syracuse women dominate Pitt, remain undefeated in ACC play
Syracuse women dominate Pitt, remain undefeated in ACC play
The No. 12 Syracuse Women’s basketball team easily took down Pittsburgh on Thursday night, 82-50, winning their ninth straight game.
However, the game wasn’t always in control for Syracuse Head Coach Quentin Hillsman. Syracuse (15-2, 4-0) found themselves ahead 14-7 with just four minutes remaining in the first quarter but gave much of that lead back to a Pittsburgh (9-9, 0-4) 9-0 run in just under a minute of play. The Orange still finished the quarter up 21-16.
Sophomore Digna Strautmane, who finished the game with 22 points and three rebounds, poured in three 3-pointers in the second quarter to give the Orange a 6-point lead going into halftime.
Junior Tiana Mangakahia led the Orange in scoring in the second half with 11 points, 9 of those coming in an explosive third quarter in which Syracuse poured in 28 points to the Panthers’ eight. The third quarter began with a 10-3 run from the Orange with baskets coming exclusively from Mangakahia and Strautmane.
Both players have emerged as leaders for the Orange this season. Mangakahia has been a clear leader for the Orange the past two seasons, averaging 16 points and just under eight assists per game this season. The junior is coming off an excellent 34-point, 10 assist and 10 rebound game against North Carolina in the Orange’s third ACC win.
Hillsman’s team remains undefeated in ACC play following their team win over Pittsburgh, moving to 4-0 in conference play. The Orange remain one of three undefeated teams in the ACC, along with NC State and Notre Dame — the first-ranked team in the country. Louisville also sits at No. 4 in the country but already lost to Notre Dame.
Syracuse now shifts the focus to Georgia Tech, a team in the middle of the pack of the ACC. The Yellow Jackets are 2-3 in conference play and 12-6 overall. In such a competitive conference like the ACC, the Orange must take care of games like this if they want a shot at the conference title in March.
Syracuse will face the Yellow Jackets Sunday at 2 p.m. in Atlanta.