Orange Lose to #4 Cardinals, UVA Up Next

Naje Murray led the Orange in scoring with 16 when Syracuse lost to #4 Louisville Sunday afternoon, 100-64. She added five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Murray shot 6-for-12 from the field, and had a pair of three-pointers. Syracuse is now 9-12 on the season and 9-4 at home.

The Cardinals jumped out on a 4-0 run sparked by a Chelsie Hall jumper. Christianna Carr got the Orange on the scoreboard with a layup to make it 4-2, Cardinals. Louisville stretched its lead with a 10-2 run before ‘Cuse called timeout with 5:57 remaining in the first. Two Orange runs brought Syracuse within six, but the Cardinals led at the end of quarter one 30-17.

Syracuse opened the second quarter on a 5-0 run but Louisville responded with a quick four points. Syracuse outscored Louisville 13-8 up to the media timeout, closing the score gap to eight, 38-30. Out of the timeout, the Cardinals scored back-to-back baskets that helped Louisville maintain the lead at the half, 50-39. At the half, Syracuse shot 12-for-29 from the field, and 7-for-14 from behind the arc.
 
The Orange started the scoring in the second half with a Murray layup after a Christianna Carr steal. The Cardinals responded with a 7-4 run to keep the lead 57-45 at the media timeout. Louisville closed the third to lead by 15 at the break, 65-50. 
 
The Orange went cold behind the arc in the third, shooting 0-for-7 and Louisville continued to pull away in the fourth quarter, out-scoring the Orange 35-14, securing the win for the Cardinals.
 
Chrislyn Carr tallied 14 points and shot 3-for-6 from behind the arc. She led the Orange in assists with four and recorded three rebounds, and a steal. Teisha Hyman had 10 points, five rebounds and an assist. Alaina Rice had seven points, two rebounds and a steal. Christianna Carr added seven points, two assists, a steal, and three blocks. Alaysia Styles had five points, five rebounds, two assists, three steals, and a block. Julianna Walker also added a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter.

Former Syracuse guard Emily Engstler had 11 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals and four blocks for the Cardinals. Louisville had six players in double figures, and nine recorded points. The Orange outshot Louisville from three with 38.5 percent compared to the Cardinal’s 31.8 percent.

The Orange hit the road to play their make-up game at Virginia on Tuesday, Feb. 8 in John Paul Jones Arena at 6 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for Jan. 16 but was postponed due to inclement weather in the Virginia area. The game will be streamed on ACCNX through the ESPN app.