The Daily OrangeWBB | Resilient Jones bounces back to lead Syracuse after early struggles
By Didier Morais
Posted: 12/3/08, 1:44 AM EST Section: Sports
Chandrea Jones couldn't catch a break in the first half of Tuesday night's game against Lehigh. Each time the senior guard chucked up a shot attempt, the ball either rimmed out, careened off the backboard or sailed out of bounds for an airball.
By the end of the half, Jones had managed four points, shooting 1-of-9 from the perimeter.
Usually, Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman intervenes in these situations, using halftime to challenge his underperforming starters to play to their potential. But Jones didn't receive that lecture this time around.
"I didn't say anything to her," Hillsman said. "I knew she would get it going. When you have a great player, and she's going to be a pro, you just let her fight through it. She wasn't making field goals, but she took the ball to the basket and got a lot of free throws at the basket."
And those free throws were the key to Jones' second-half turnaround. Despite a lackluster shooting performance (3-of-16), she went a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe, leading the Orange (6-2) past the Mountain Hawks (5-2) in a 69-60 victory.
Jones played with resilience Tuesday. She didn't let her premature struggles stop her from playing her normal style in the second half.
She continued to drive to the hoop and took the tough shots when called upon. Her efforts were rewarded with frequent trips to the free-throw line. Scoring 14 points in the second half, Jones finished with a game-high 18 points.
"It wasn't too frustrating because we were winning," Jones said. "My team, they did a good job at keeping us up and trusting me to get back into my groove."
Sophomore guard Erica Morrow and junior forward Nicole Michael sustained Syracuse's offense while Jones' regained her stroke, chipping in 15 points apiece. At one point in the second half, Michael scored 10 consecutive points to propel the Orange to a double-digit lead.
Junior forward Juanita Ward had a successful outing and reached double figures as well, scoring 10 points in 18 minutes of play. The critical contributions from the four players factored greatly into Syracuse's victory.
By the end of the half, Jones had managed four points, shooting 1-of-9 from the perimeter.
Usually, Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman intervenes in these situations, using halftime to challenge his underperforming starters to play to their potential. But Jones didn't receive that lecture this time around.
"I didn't say anything to her," Hillsman said. "I knew she would get it going. When you have a great player, and she's going to be a pro, you just let her fight through it. She wasn't making field goals, but she took the ball to the basket and got a lot of free throws at the basket."
And those free throws were the key to Jones' second-half turnaround. Despite a lackluster shooting performance (3-of-16), she went a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe, leading the Orange (6-2) past the Mountain Hawks (5-2) in a 69-60 victory.
Jones played with resilience Tuesday. She didn't let her premature struggles stop her from playing her normal style in the second half.
She continued to drive to the hoop and took the tough shots when called upon. Her efforts were rewarded with frequent trips to the free-throw line. Scoring 14 points in the second half, Jones finished with a game-high 18 points.
"It wasn't too frustrating because we were winning," Jones said. "My team, they did a good job at keeping us up and trusting me to get back into my groove."
Sophomore guard Erica Morrow and junior forward Nicole Michael sustained Syracuse's offense while Jones' regained her stroke, chipping in 15 points apiece. At one point in the second half, Michael scored 10 consecutive points to propel the Orange to a double-digit lead.
Junior forward Juanita Ward had a successful outing and reached double figures as well, scoring 10 points in 18 minutes of play. The critical contributions from the four players factored greatly into Syracuse's victory.
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