WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite facing an 18-point deficit in the first half of play, Syracuse stormed back in the second half to tie the game, 52-52, at 8:34 of the second half, but the late surge was not enough as Georgetown (11-3, 1-0) defeated the Orange (11-3, 0-1) by a 80-73 final.
Sophomore guard Erica Morrow scored a career-high 29 points in the setback, extending her streak of scoring over 20 points to three games. It marked her eighth 20-point performance of the season and the 13th of her career. Morrow went 7-of-18 from the field, but connected 5-of-10 3-point attempts, tying a season-best for the third time. The Brooklyn, N.Y. native also put 10 free throws through, tying a career-high.
Senior guard Chandrea Jones displayed a strong second half as she totaled 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds in 37 minutes of play. Junior forward Nicole Michael tallied 10 points and five boards and is now just 10 points shy of securing 1,000 points for her career. Michael also tied a career-high with four blocks. Junior forward Vionca Murray returned to the starting line-up after sitting out the last two outings with an injury, scoring six points along with five rebounds and one block in her reunion with the hardwood.
Sophomore guard Tasha Harris knocked down two treys for the first time since the Niagara (12/14/08) encounter en route to a six-point game while freshman guard Lynnae Lampkins hit her second-career 3-pointer for the Orange.
The Hoyas lurched out of the gates early with an early 7-0 cushion in the first four minutes of the opening half as Syracuse went 0-for-5 from the floor within that span.
Michael busted SU's scoreless stretch backed up with a Jones baseline 3-pointer, but Jaleesa Butler kept Georgetown up four, 9-5, with a lay-up just past the 12 minute mark of the first half.
At 8:27, Syracuse faced a 17-5 deficit after the Hoyas rattled off an 8-0 run with Shanice Fuller accounting for six of those points during the spurt.
The Orange was facing an 18-point deficit, its largest of the season, 27-9, with 2:29 remaining in the first half. Michael knocked down Syracuse's first two free throws of the contest amidst seven more Hoya points.
Syracuse's offense showed signs of life in the last few minutes of the half as the Orange responded with an 11-7 advantage. Morrow drained five points and freshman forward Troya Berry, Jones and Murray each accounted for two points to close out the first half, 31-18, in favor of Georgetown.
The first half was plagued with turnovers from both teams. The Orange coughed it up 15 times while Georgetown turned it over 11 times, scoring 12 points off of SU miscues. The 13-point lead Georgetown amassed in the first half marks the largest deficit Syracuse faced this season after 20 minutes of play.
The momentum swung wildly in Syracuse's favor as Morrow initiated the second-half scoring with her second and third 3-pointers of the contest with a Michael field goal sandwiched in between to cut the lead to within five, 31-26.
Karee Houlette broke up SU's eight-point run with her own trey, but Morrow stormed back with her third consecutive trifecta. Lampkins fed off of Morrow's momentum and buried her own 3-point attempt coupled with a Michael field goal to make it a one possession game, 37-34, at the 16-minute mark.
In the next four minute spell, both teams tightened up and displayed valiant offensive performances. Georgetown nudged its advantage out to five, 48-43, by way of an 11-9 exchange. Morrow contributed four points and Michael and Berry each swished two.
Syracuse squashed its largest deficit of the season at 8:34 of the second half when Morrow tied the ball game, 52-52, by knocking down a couple free throws. Jones catapulted the Orange with six points in the 9-4 run in favor of Syracuse.
Georgetown stretched its lead back to six, 65-59, but a field goal and the foul shot along with two more free throws by Murray reset Syracuse's deficit back to one, 65-64, with 3:40 to play.
The Hoyas went on the offensive and outscored Syracuse 15-9 in the remaining portion of the game. Sophomore guard Tasha Harris drilled a shot from behind the arc to bring it within four, 77-73, but the Orange was forced to foul the remainder of the game and could not mount the comeback as Georgetown finished off SU, 80-73.
Syracuse is now 14-13 all-time in BIG EAST openers.
The Orange returns home to continue its BIG EAST journey when it squares off against No. 15 Rutgers on Tuesday, January 6 at 7 pm in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse is 7-0 at home this year.