Saint Joseph's 84, Syracuse 70: Orange Women's Basketball Knocked Off at Home by St. Joe's
No. 16 Syracuse Falls to Saint Joseph's in Blowout Loss at Home
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The No. 16 Syracuse Orange women's basketball team suffered a disappointing loss at home to Saint Joseph's on Sunday afternoon.
The Orange, who entered the game with a 10-3 record, were never really in the game against the Hawks. Saint Joseph's jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 20 points in the second half.
Syracuse was led by Tiana Mangakahia, who finished with 25 points and six assists. Kiara Lewis added 16 points and Digna Strautmane chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Saint Joseph's Dominates from Start to Finish
Saint Joseph's came out firing on all cylinders, hitting their first six shots from the field. The Hawks led by 10 points after the first quarter and never let up.
Syracuse struggled to find an offensive rhythm, shooting just 37% from the field. The Orange also turned the ball over 15 times, which led to easy baskets for Saint Joseph's.
The Hawks were led by Katie Jekot, who finished with a game-high 28 points. Alyssa Monaghan added 20 points and eight rebounds, while Sarah Veilleux chipped in 17 points.
Syracuse Struggles to Keep Up
Syracuse tried to make a run in the second half, but Saint Joseph's had an answer for every Orange basket.
The Hawks hit some tough shots down the stretch, while Syracuse couldn't seem to buy a bucket. The Orange finished the game shooting just 4-of-19 from three-point range.
This loss is a major setback for Syracuse, who is now 10-4 on the season. The Orange will need to regroup quickly, as they have a tough game against No. 3 Louisville on Thursday.
Conclusion
Syracuse's loss to Saint Joseph's is a reminder that the Orange are still a work in progress.
The Orange have a lot of talent, but they need to learn how to play together consistently. They also need to improve their defense, which has been a problem all season.
Syracuse has a lot of potential, but they need to start living up to it. If they can do that, they have a chance to be a special team.
