Syracuse women’s hoops loses 74-65 in mismatch against No. 17 Duke

Syracuse women’s basketball lost to No. 17 Duke 74-65 at the Dome on Sunday afternoon, despite leading early against the Blue Devils (11-2).

After stringing together six wins over teams including Ohio State and Clemson in late November, the Orange (8-7) have lost three straight. All three losses came to ACC opponents by an average margin of 23 points per game.

“The ladies fought hard,” acting head coach Vonn Read said. “We had a little bit of a size disadvantage, but I thought we did a much better job today. (Duke) only scored 28 points in the paint–we had been giving up 50 the last couple of games.”

Teisha Hyman led all scorers with 23 points. Chrissy Carr followed with 12 points, four rebounds and two assists.

“Just being able to utilize my quickness, and notice whenever bigs are coming out on me, and I can either shoot or attack off it,” Carr said about her offensive success. “Just looking at who’s guarding me, and switching my mindset when it’s time to score and when it’s time to just move the ball.”

Syracuse led by one heading into the second quarter after a jump shot from Chrislyn Carr beat the first-quarter buzzer. All five of Syracuse’s regular starters and Alaina Rice registered an assist in SU’s tactical first-quarter defensive effort.

The chances Syracuse created in the second quarter didn’t fall. The Orange shot 16% from the field in the second frame; Duke shot 42% during that span and opened up a 12-point lead before halftime.

Syracuse stuck with the Blue Devils on the boards despite Duke’s height advantage with 6’3″ Onome Akinbode-James and 6’5″ Jade Williams. The Orange out-rebounded their visitors 47-35 led by Alaina Rice’s 11. Alaysia Styles finished with 10 boards and 10 points for her second double-double with Syracuse.

“The difference between today and some games we’ve had in the past–we all kind of did the little things,” Styles said. “One of them is crashing (the boards), and one of them is rebounding.”

The Orange fought back from down 12 at halftime and cut Duke’s lead to three in the third quarter. But the Blue Devils’ size–they blocked six shots compared to SU’s two–and skill–eight Blue Devils scored, five scored in double-digits– withstood the Orange surge. SU didn’t lead in the second half.

Syracuse women’s basketball will play another difficult conference matchup in their next game at No. 3 Louisville on Jan. 13.

“I think we have to go back to what we’ve been doing in the past,” Styles said about snapping SU’s three-game skid. “Keep doing the small things. The small things are what make us win games. We all have to be committed every defensive possession, every offensive possession, everything.”