BOX SCORE

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Nov. 18, 2011) – Three Syracuse players recorded double-doubles as the Orange bested the Saint Francis University women's basketball team, 88-45, at the Carrier Dome on Friday evening.  The loss dropped the visiting Red Flash to 0-3 on the young season, while Syracuse improved to 2-0.

Four members of the Orange scored in double figures led by 22 from Kayla Alexander.  Syracuse, which led the nation in rebounding margin last year, out-rebounded the Flash, 56-35.

“The bottom line is that we have to play with more heart and passion,” said head coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl.  “That's something we have to find real quick.  This is not what Red Flash basketball is all about – it's really not.  We have to play better and we can.”

Several troubling early-season trends continued to rear their heads against the Orange.  Namely, the Flash shot under 30 percent for the second game in a row and committed over 23 turnovers for the third consecutive contest.  Syracuse converted at a 43.1 percent clip on the night.

On a positive note, redshirt freshman Hailey Carangelo (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon Catholic) began to show her potential as an outside threat to lead Saint Francis with 14 points off the bench. Carangelo went 5-of-11 from the floor, but was 4-of-9 from three-point range.  Meanwhile, junior Nickia Gibbs (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) had nine points and a team-high nine rebounds.

“Hailey's had a good week of practice and that showed tonight against a tough team,” said Robinson Fruchtl.  “I'm happy with her progress.  She's giving us a lot of effort.”

Syracuse seized momentum early, recording the first 13 points of the game – nine of which came from Elashier Hall.  Saint Francis scored its first basket with 15:42 remaining in the first half.  SU proceeded to cruise to a, 47-19, lead at halftime.

Saint Francis started out much stronger in the second half, matching Syracuse point-for-point through the period's first five minutes before the Orange began to pull away.

The Red Flash wraps up its three-game road trip on Tuesday with a visit to Akron.  Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.