The Daily OrangeSU women's basketball overcomes sloppy first half to defeat Alabama State
By Brett LoGiurato
Posted: 11/20/09, 12:46 AM EST Section: Sports
The wake-up call came early this season for the Syracuse women's basketball team.
In disposing of its first two opponents - Farleigh Dickinson and Presbyterian - with relative ease, the Orange was sound in every phase of the game. SU hung a Carrier Dome women's-record 97 points on Presbyterian, and used a swarming defensive press to hold FDU to 45 points.
But that wasn't the case Thursday night. The Orange struggled to find a rhythm throughout the game, limping to a sloppy 74-66 victory over Alabama State in front of a crowd of 336 at Manley Field House. After the game, head coach Quentin Hillsman was visibly irritated at his team's performance and effort in the victory.
"We didn't play with any fire, no enthusiasm," Hillsman said. "We acted like we didn't want to be here.
"I'll take the 'W,' but it's tough to swallow."
Syracuse (3-0) shot just 30 percent from the field, and only 59.5 percent from the line, in its worst offensive showing of the year thus far. The Orange also committed 18 turnovers, leading to 10 Alabama State points.
Also, the bigger, longer Orange committed a whopping 21 fouls while allowing the Lady Hornets (1-2) to grab 14 offensive rebounds, leading to more criticism from Hillsman.
"Fourteen offensive rebounds is totally unacceptable," Hillsman said. "Twenty-one personal fouls, totally unacceptable. We're going to get back in the gym, we're going to work hard, and we're going to figure out what we have to do to be a better basketball team."
From the opening tip, it was clear the Orange wasn't in the same rhythm as its first two contests. After five lead changes in the first half, the game was left knotted at 35, the eighth tie score of the half.
At halftime, Hillsman said he tried to motivate his team to play with more aggression. He switched the defense to the 2-3 zone, trying to protect three of his players that had two fouls in the first half.
"They beat us up and down," Hillsman said. "I knew that if we continued to play that way, we would foul out."
In disposing of its first two opponents - Farleigh Dickinson and Presbyterian - with relative ease, the Orange was sound in every phase of the game. SU hung a Carrier Dome women's-record 97 points on Presbyterian, and used a swarming defensive press to hold FDU to 45 points.
But that wasn't the case Thursday night. The Orange struggled to find a rhythm throughout the game, limping to a sloppy 74-66 victory over Alabama State in front of a crowd of 336 at Manley Field House. After the game, head coach Quentin Hillsman was visibly irritated at his team's performance and effort in the victory.
"We didn't play with any fire, no enthusiasm," Hillsman said. "We acted like we didn't want to be here.
"I'll take the 'W,' but it's tough to swallow."
Syracuse (3-0) shot just 30 percent from the field, and only 59.5 percent from the line, in its worst offensive showing of the year thus far. The Orange also committed 18 turnovers, leading to 10 Alabama State points.
Also, the bigger, longer Orange committed a whopping 21 fouls while allowing the Lady Hornets (1-2) to grab 14 offensive rebounds, leading to more criticism from Hillsman.
"Fourteen offensive rebounds is totally unacceptable," Hillsman said. "Twenty-one personal fouls, totally unacceptable. We're going to get back in the gym, we're going to work hard, and we're going to figure out what we have to do to be a better basketball team."
From the opening tip, it was clear the Orange wasn't in the same rhythm as its first two contests. After five lead changes in the first half, the game was left knotted at 35, the eighth tie score of the half.
At halftime, Hillsman said he tried to motivate his team to play with more aggression. He switched the defense to the 2-3 zone, trying to protect three of his players that had two fouls in the first half.
"They beat us up and down," Hillsman said. "I knew that if we continued to play that way, we would foul out."
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