Women’s Basketball Extends Win Streak Now at 10

By Brittany Ehrlich

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse women’s basketball advanced to 10-0 on the season after defeating Drexel 72-62. Digna Strautmane had a career high 19 points.

“She was fantastic on the offensive end,” head coach Quentin Hillsman said. “Defensively she did a good job getting in front of her man and not slapping down and fouling.”

Strautmane had five blocks and two steals on the defensive end. She also led the Orange in rebounds with 11.

“I think its just I just wanted to win like everybody else,” Strautmane said. “I knew they were strong, they weren’t taller but they were strong and physical. I had to put my up power and be strong.”

Strautmane owed her offensive dominance to her teammates and her putting more effort in.

Although the Orange emerged the victorious, it struggled in the first half.

“Got to give out kids a lot of credit,” Hillsman said. “We got a week off and might as well go for it and do what we have to to win the game.”

Syracuse came in the second half, knocking down 16-of-28 shots from the field, including six 3-pointers.

In the fourth quarter, Syracuse wouldn’t get over its lead, scoring 18 more points.

“We got the ball inside and could exploit the matchups we had,” Hillsman said about the comeback. “We did a really good job in the second half in getting player movement.”

Five Orange players recorded double-digit outings along with Strautmane, including Miranda Drummond (17), Tiana Mangakahia (16), Gabrielle Cooper (10), and Isis Young (10). This is the second time this season that five Syracuse athletes have scored in double-figures with the last time coming against Morgan State in the season opener.

Mangakahia also had a big night for the orange with 10 assists. This is her ninth game tallying 10 or more this season. It was also her ninth double-double of the year.

“I thought our kids came out in the second half and really played hard,” Hillsman said. “I give the kids a lot of credit as it’s the same story when I step up here every night. They’re being aggressive, playing tough and I’m really happy for them, happy for our program, happy for their effort. When you break 10-0, what else can you ask for? They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do up until this point.”

The Orange look to go eleven straight as it faces Coastal Carolina next on Sunday December 17^th in the Carolina Challenge. The Chanticleer’s are 5-4 this season.