Box ScoreCHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Syracuse women's basketball team used a dramatic second half comeback to open the season on the right note with a 69-65 victory against Coppin State on Saturday at the Women's National Invitational Championship hosted by North Carolina. The Orange had four players in double digits including senior forward
Fantasia Goodwin and sophomore guard
Nicole Michael, who each recorded double-doubles.
Goodwin registered 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, including a career-high seven offensive boards. The double-double is the fourth of her Syracuse career. Michael posted 12 points and 11 rebounds for her 10th career double-double.
The Orange was led by junior guard Chandrea Jones, who scored 17 points, grabbed five boards and registered two steals.
Freshman guard Erica Morrow, the first McDonald's All-American to play for the Orange, tallied 14 points, four rebounds and dished out a team-high four assists. Sophomore forward Vionca Murray added nine points and was 4-for-5 from the field.
Morrow opened the 2007-08 campaign with the Orange's first basket and the first score of the game. Coppin State quickly answered and grabbed the lead with a 13-3 run for a 24-13 advantage at 10:17 of the first half. The Orange responded with a 3-point basket from Morrow and a field goal by Goodwin to pull the game with six (26-20) at 8:21.
Coppin State (2-3) answered with an 11-2 run to move ahead 37-22 with 2:50 left in the half. The Orange was able to bring the score to 10 (39-29) heading into halftime thanks to a 3-pointer and a deuce from Michael in the closing minutes.
The Orange shot 36.4 percent (12-32) in the first half, while the Eagles shot 46.2 percent (18-39). Morrow and Michael led the Orange at the break with nine and seven points, respectively.
Syracuse came out flying to begin the second half; scoring 11-consecutive points to move the score to 41-40. Jones contributed seven points during the streak.
A two-pointer by Goodwin at 14:29 even the score at 45-45 and less than a minute later another bucket by the senior gave the Orange its first lead since the opening basket.
The Eagles reclaimed the advantage, 48-47, with a 3-pointer by Ashley Thompson at 13:20, but a field goal by Jones at 12:23 gave the Orange the lead again. The lead changed hands a total of six times during the contest.
Coppin pulled the score even, 63-63, when Shalamar Oakley made a bucket at 2:11, but scores by Jones and Murray put the finishing touches on Orange's victory.
Syracuse finished the game shooting 39.1 percent (27-69) from the floor, 15.0 (3-20) percent from behind the arch and 52.2 percent (12-23) from the line. The Orange owned the glass with 51 rebounds, including 20 offensive boards that led to 18 second chance points.
Oakley and Rashida Suber were the Eagles' top-performers with 20 and19 points, respectively. Sesalie Johnson posted 14 points and Jennifer Martin grabbed a team-best 14 rebounds.
As a team, Coppin State shot 42.9 percent (30-70) from the field, 28.6 percent (4-14) from 3-point land and 33.3 percent (1-3) from the charity stripe.
The Women's National Invitational Championship continues with the Orange taking on North Carolina Sunday at 2p.m.