Spring Break
The Daily OrangeWBB | Late USF run knocks stunned SU out of Big East tourney
By Michael Bonner
Posted: 3/9/08, 1:29 AM EST Section: Sports
HARTFORD, Conn. - Erica Morrow tried to change Syracuse's fate Saturday night. But it turns out she was just delaying the inevitable.
South Florida was able withstand Morrow's comeback efforts down the stretch, as the Bulls topped the Orange, 68-67 in overtime, a stunning upset that knocked six seed SU out of the Big East tournament in the first round.
The 8,307 fans on hand here at the XL Center saw the freshman Morrow try to bring her team back in a game it controlled for 33 minutes. But any dreams of a win and a Big East championship slipped away with a 15-2 run by 11th-seeded Bulls (16-14).
"I thought Erica Morrow, for (SU was big), every time we made a run she made a big shot." USF head coach Jose Fernandez said. "…Tonight, I think three or four times we were down nine, 10, 12 and just kept battling, and kept battling. And we made some big plays down the stretch."
After taking the lead with 17:54 remaining in the first half, Syracuse (22-8) would not trail again until the 1:43 left in the second half. During that time the Orange extended its lead five times to double figures, after the Bulls whittled its deficit to single digits.
USF took the lead on a bucked by Jessica Lawson late in the second half. Two minutes later, Morrow snapped a 15-2 USF run with a 3-pointer off the glass with only seconds remaining to force overtime.
In the final seven minutes before Morrow's late 3, the Orange missed nine field goals, committed four fouls and had four turnovers. The only two points Syracuse could muster came from the charity stripe courtesy of Vionca Murray.
"Coach kept telling us to be aggressive, you know go to the basket and just keep being aggressive," Morrow said. "Shots weren't falling and we just couldn't get anything so we tried to lock down on defense. And some of their shots were falling and ours weren't."
The Bulls found a way to score the same way the Orange had created its numerous double-digit leads. In the first half Syracuse dominated the inside, outscoring USF 18-0 in the paint and shot 9-for-9 from the line. South Florida on the other hand went 0-for-3.
South Florida was able withstand Morrow's comeback efforts down the stretch, as the Bulls topped the Orange, 68-67 in overtime, a stunning upset that knocked six seed SU out of the Big East tournament in the first round.
The 8,307 fans on hand here at the XL Center saw the freshman Morrow try to bring her team back in a game it controlled for 33 minutes. But any dreams of a win and a Big East championship slipped away with a 15-2 run by 11th-seeded Bulls (16-14).
"I thought Erica Morrow, for (SU was big), every time we made a run she made a big shot." USF head coach Jose Fernandez said. "…Tonight, I think three or four times we were down nine, 10, 12 and just kept battling, and kept battling. And we made some big plays down the stretch."
After taking the lead with 17:54 remaining in the first half, Syracuse (22-8) would not trail again until the 1:43 left in the second half. During that time the Orange extended its lead five times to double figures, after the Bulls whittled its deficit to single digits.
USF took the lead on a bucked by Jessica Lawson late in the second half. Two minutes later, Morrow snapped a 15-2 USF run with a 3-pointer off the glass with only seconds remaining to force overtime.
In the final seven minutes before Morrow's late 3, the Orange missed nine field goals, committed four fouls and had four turnovers. The only two points Syracuse could muster came from the charity stripe courtesy of Vionca Murray.
"Coach kept telling us to be aggressive, you know go to the basket and just keep being aggressive," Morrow said. "Shots weren't falling and we just couldn't get anything so we tried to lock down on defense. And some of their shots were falling and ours weren't."
The Bulls found a way to score the same way the Orange had created its numerous double-digit leads. In the first half Syracuse dominated the inside, outscoring USF 18-0 in the paint and shot 9-for-9 from the line. South Florida on the other hand went 0-for-3.
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