Tuesday, January 31
Carrier Dome
7:30 p.m.
Syracuse University
55
vs
67
Notre Dame
Vaida Sipaviciute poured in 19 points off the bench for SU versus Notre Dame.
1/31/2006 10:27:14 PM | Women's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish used a 24-9 scoring run in the game’s final 14 minutes to defeat the Orange, 67-55, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, in front of 895 fans, the largest Carrier Dome crowd this season to watch a women’s basketball game.
Down 44-41with 14:16 to go in the game, the Fighting Irish took control and went on a 15-2 scoring spurt in the span of nine minutes to take a 56-48 lead, the largest advantage for either team in the game up to that point. After sophomore Vaida Sipaviciute (Kaunas, Lithuania) connected on a 3-point play to bring SU within five, 56-51, Notre Dame continued its run and finished the game with a 10-4 stretch to seal the win.
Sipaviciute recorded 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting to go along with seven boards and three blocks. She also went 3-for-3 from the foul line to extend her consecutive-free throw streak to 22. Junior Tracy Harbut (Lexington, Ky.) had 11 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Harbut moved into fourth on the all-time assists list for juniors with 105 on the season.
Notre Dame shot 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from the floor in the second half compared to just 37.5 percent (12-32) in the first. The Fighting Irish also connected on 14-of-23 free throws in the second stanza. ND benefited from early Syracuse fouls as it was in the double bonus just nine minutes into the second half.
The first half was tight the whole way, with neither team opening up a lead of more than four. The Orange took an early 10-6 lead when freshman Cintia Johnson (Syracuse, N.Y.) forced a steal and took it the other way for a fast break basket. Notre Dame quickly tied the score, 10-10, with the next two buckets. The Fighting Irish took its largest lead of the first half, 20-16, at the 5:41 mark. With a minute left in the half, ND led 25-22. SU scored the final five points of the frame, capped by a pair of free throws by Harbut with eight seconds left, to give the Orange a 27-25 lead at the break.
The halftime advantage was the first since Dec. 29 when SU outscored Cornell 38-30 before intermission.
Syracuse received a strong boost from its bench as it outscored Notre Dame 27-10. The Fighting Irish were 0-for-4 from beyond the arc in the game. It marks the first time since March 2, 2004, that SU did not allow a 3-pointer. Notre Dame was also the opponent in that contest.
For the Fighting Irish (13-7, 4-5), Lindsay Schrader totaled a career-high 24 points and eight rebounds. Courtney LaVere added 14 points. Megan Duffy was held to just two halftime points, but ended the night with 12. Crystal Erwin collected eight rebounds in the win.
SU (9-12, 2-8) is back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 8, when it hosts BIG EAST foe Georgetown at the Carrier Dome at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 23
Friday, October 23
Friday, October 23
Friday, October 23
