Syracuse women’s basketball defeats Boston College, 75-57

An important streak was broken in an impressive fashion on Sunday in Boston. The Syracuse women’s basketball team earned its first road conference win in the 2017-2018 season, snapping a four-game road conference losing streak.

Syracuse (17-5, 5-4 ACC) has won three straight after going 5-5 in its previous 10 games. Forward Digna Strautmane posted a career-best 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-9 converted three pointers. The Latvian freshman was averaging 8.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game leading into Sunday. She had been held to 10 points or fewer in all but one game this season until today. She scored 17 in Syracuse’s season opener versus Morgan State.

‘Cuse point guard Tiana Mangakahia was the only Orange player besides Strautmane to score in double figures. She contributed 19 points and nine assists to the Orange’s 18-point win.

The Orange opened Sunday’s game without wasting any time. Syracuse scored on its first possession after gathering the opening tip. Mangakahia fittingly found Strautmane for the first points of the game as 14 seconds rolled off the clock. That was the first and only lead change of Sunday’s game.

Syracuse built upon a close 19-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Orange defense clamped down on the Eagles in the second quarter, allowing just 10 points to on 4-of-12 shooting. Syracuse forced five turnovers and outscored Boston College 21-10 in the quarter. ‘Cuse led 40-26 at the midway point.

Syracuse extended that lead to 25 in the third quarter, its largest lead of the game. Strautmane opened the half with a bucket to once again start the scoring for Syracuse. The Orange ended the quarter on a 13-5 run to bury the Eagles early. Syracuse led by a comfortable 22 points at the end of three.

The Eagles outscored the Orange 13-4 through the first eight minutes of the final frame, but the detrimental second quarter haunted Boston College in the end as the Orange walked away with a 75-57 victory.

What’s Next

Syracuse returns home for a pair of conference games at the Carrier Dome over the next week. Syracuse welcomes in Virginia Tech (14-7, 3-5 ACC) on Thursday February 1, and they will clash with national powerhouse No. 4 Louisville (22-1, 8-1 ACC) on Super Bowl Sunday.

Tip versus Virginia Tech is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, and the Orange will tip versus Louisville on Sunday February 4 at 1:00 p.m. EST.

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.