Providence College Athletics
Providence College
12-13, 2-10
Syracuse
19-6, 7-5
Providence Shocks No. 22 Syracuse
2/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 19, 2008
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Providence College women's basketball team upset #22/24 Syracuse, 62-58, at Alumni Hall/Mullaney Gymnasium in Providence, R.I. on Tuesday, February 19. Freshman Mi-Khida Hankins (Baltimore, Md.) led all scorers with a career-high 22 points and hit four-of-four free throws in the final 11 seconds of the game to seal the victory. As a team, PC hit 18-of-20 free throws overall and were a perfect eight-of-eight during the last 1:32 of play. Chandrea Jones led the Orange with 17 points.
The Friars started the game on a 16-5 run over the first 3:45 of the opening half. Syracuse answered with an 18-4 scoring run to take a three-point advantage (23-20) at the 2:40 mark. The two teams traded baskets over the next 1:15 and the score stood at 27-26 in favor of Syracuse with 44 seconds left in the half. After a Syracuse turnover, sophomore guard Kendria Holmes (Charlotte, N.C.) sank two free throws with three seconds left on the clock to put PC up by one at halftime (28-27).
In the second half, the two teams traded baskets over the first 2:37 and the score was tied 34-34. PC then went on a 7-0 run to take a 41-34 lead with 13:45 remaining on the clock. The Friars were able to hold off a big run by the Orange and maintain a lead until the 4:35 mark as Jones put Syracuse ahead, 52-51, on a lay-up. Sophomore Emily Cournoyer (North Attleboro, Mass.) helped the Friars regain the lead just 24 seconds later on an old-fashioned three-point play, assisted by Hankins. It was a lead the Friars would not relinquish as Syracuse missed six of its final eight shots during the final four minutes of play, and were just two-of-four from the foul line in that span.
A lay-up by SU's Fantasia Goodwin with two seconds remaining got the Orange within two (60-58), but Hankins sealed the victory for PC with two free throws. Hankins finished the game 7-of-14 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the charity stripe. She also dished three assists and collected a game-high four steals. Cournoyer completed the night with 16 points and a game and season-high nine rebounds. Junior Shantee Darrian (Trenton, N.J.) contributed nine points and eight boards. Holmes dished a game-high six assists for PC.
Joining Jones in double figures for Syracuse was Goodwin (12 points). Erica Morrow, Jones and Vionca Murray each grabbed a team-high six rebounds for the Orange. Jones dished a team-best three assists.
The Friars return to action on Saturday, February 23 against #5/4 Rutgers at 2:00 p.m. The game will be played at Alumni Hall/Mullaney Gymnasium in Providence, R.I.
- GO FRIARS! -
