Syracuse took control, in a huge way, in the fourth quarter, breaking open a close game on the way to a 79-60 win at Virginia on Sunday.
The result snapped a seven-game winning streak for the ‘Hoos (13-4, 5-1 ACC).
UVA led 34-28 at the half, but ‘Cuse (14-3, 4-2 ACC) went on an 11-3 run to close out the third with the lead, at 51-49.
The fourth quarter was a disaster for the Cavaliers: 5-of-16 shooting and five turnovers on the offensive end, as the Orange shot 11-of-16 from the floor and 4-of-5 from three.
It didn’t all happen at once. A Tabitha Amanze jumper at the 4:38 mark got Virginia back to down 64-58.
Syracuse closed from there on a 15-2 run.
“I thought we had the game under control for three quarters, and it was a very embarrassing fourth quarter, and we’ll get better,” Virginia coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton said after the game.
Kymora Johnson had 19 points (7-of-10 FG), six rebounds and five assists – but also five turnovers – for the ‘Hoos.
Virginia had 21 turnovers on the afternoon, leading to a 29-13 advantage for Syracuse in points off turnovers.
Caitlin Weimar scored 15 pts on 7-for-9 shooting with eight rebounds for UVA.
For Syracuse, Laila Phelia had a monster game, with 38 points (13-of-19 FG, 10-of-11 FT), while Sophie Burrows contributed 21 points (7-of-10 FG, 7-of-8 3FG).
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Chris Graham
