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The 23rd-ranked Syracuse Orange women’s basketball team continues to work on its hottest start in seven years. Syracuse started the 2009-2010 season 12-0. That team did fairly well as it lost to Michigan (or, where I’m from, “That Team Up North”) in the NIT Quarterfinals that season.
Keep. It. Rolling. pic.twitter.com/XdJQtM8c65
— 'Cuse Women's Hoops (@CuseWBB) December 18, 2017
The 2017-2018 version is also good — very good. This bunch extended its start to 11-0 with a 69-57 win over the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on Sunday. The Orange survive this test en route to a Duel in the Desert clash with No. 5/No. 3 Mississippi State on Thursday in Las Vegas.
Gabby Cooper put forth her best outing of the season so far, a 24-point, eight-rebound showing. Amaya Finklea-Guity also posted a season-best 18 points and eight rebounds.
Point guard Tiana Mangakahia compiled her ninth double-double in 11 tries this season. She contributed 12 points and 12 assists in a team-high 36 minutes.
The Orange shot 43.1 percent from the field compared to Coastal’s 35.1 percent. Syracuse also finished plus-5 in the turnover margin.
What’s Next?
Syracuse (11-0) will face its toughest opponent to date this season in Las Vegas on Thursday in Mississippi State (11-0). The Orange has two non-conference games left on its schedule — Mississippi State and UNLV — before ACC conference play starts on December 28 at Notre Dame.
Follow the Author
Corey Crisan is the Orange Women’s Basketball reporter for TNIAAM. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @cdcrisan for coverage all season long.