Syracuse women’s basketball loses to Miami, 72-67

Almost a year after the Syracuse Orange women’s basketball team smacked down the Miami Hurricanes by a 33-point margin, the Orange continue its search for a road conference win after losing to the 2017-2018 version of the Hurricanes.

Syracuse fell to Miami, 72-67, in Coral Gables on Thursday. In doing so, the Orange drop to 2-4 in ACC play and are 5-5 in its last 10 games since starting the season 10-0.

‘Cuse head coach Quentin Hillsman is not a stranger to struggles on the road within the conference. Last season, the Orange lost five conference games, and four were dropped on the road. The Orange lost three conference games two seasons ago, and two of those losses were against road opponents.

Here I Am

Thursday’s first quarter was mostly controlled by Syracuse into the halfway media timeout. The last 4:46 of the quarter was all Miami, as the Hurricanes edged the Orange 15-8 from that point to tie the game at 22-22 after one.

Orange point guard Tiana Mangakahia added to her NCAA-leading assist total of 182 entering Thursday with 14 additional dimes. Seven of those assists came in the first quarter.

Rock You Like A...

Miami began to storm ahead of Syracuse in the second quarter. The ‘Canes went on a 17-4 run to start the second and the Orange were held scoreless for a 4:02 span in the quarter. Syracuse was held to nine points in the second, and the Hurricanes led 42-31 at the half.

Miami held a 16-point lead at one point in the half, but the Orange fought back to give themselves a chance.

Syracuse closed the gap in the third. The Orange trailed by four leading into the fourth because of strong defense and a few Miami turnovers that led to Syracuse points. Miami made 5-of-11 attempts from the field and failed to convert five three-point attempts in the third.

Miami pulled away in the fourth after stymieing a few comeback attempts from Syracuse. the Orange closed the Miami lead to just four points, but the ‘Canes found responses to each of Syracuse’s comeback attempts.

Tiana Mangakahia and Miranda Drummond each paced Syracuse in scoring with 17 points each. Mangakahia added 14 assists and gathered nine rebounds, falling one board shy of the would-be first triple-double of its kind in program history.

Gabby Cooper and Digna Strautmane also added 11 points each for Syracuse.

Miami’s Erykah Davenport led all scorers with 21 points. Keyanna Harris contributed 16 for the ‘Canes in their win.

What’s Next

Syracuse (15-5, 2-4) will return to Central New York for a Sunday conference tilt versus the Pittsburgh Panthers. Tip is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. EST at the Carrier Dome. Sunday’s game is the first of two straight games at home and Syracuse is looking to break the all-time women’s attendance record. Syracuse welcomes Clemson into town next Thursday.

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Corey Crisan is the Orange Women’s Basketball reporter for TNIAAM. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @cdcrisan for coverage all season long.