SU’s comeback falls short in season-ending ACC Tournament loss to Clemson

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GREENSBORO, N.C. — Teisha Hyman drove into the lane a minute into the fourth quarter, successfully scoring a layup for her 10th basket of the game. Then on the next possession, with SU trailing by four, she was double teamed by Delicia Washington and Daisha Bradford as she crossed midcourt.

Hyman coughed up the ball, leading Washington to score on the ensuing fast break. Then, the Orange ran a ball-screen to free Christianna Carr along the right wing, but she missed. On the other end, Hannah Hank drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give them a nine-point lead. Hyman tried to answer back with a 3-pointer of her own, but it bounced over the backboard and out of bounds.

“I thought we gave up some easy transition buckets and they kind of got behind us a little bit,” acting head coach Vonn Read said postgame.

After an early deficit, Syracuse (11-18, 4-14 Atlantic Coast) continued to fight back against Clemson (10-20, 3-15 Atlantic Coast), getting as close as four points in the second half in its 88-69 loss. But the Orange were unable to prevent a first-round ACC Tournament exit despite Hyman’s 25 points and Chrislyn Carr’s 20. Washington torched the Orange’s defense, recording 33 points and six assists as the Tigers scored 52 points in the paint to effectively end SU’s season.

“(Washington) really just took advantage of what was there possession by possession,” Clemson head coach Amanda Butler said. “She played a really complete game.”

At the start of the game, though, Washington wasn’t immediately successful, botching her first layup attempt. Coming off a 20-5 run to end its loss against Boston College, Syracuse was able to bring that momentum into the first quarter of Wednesday’s game.

Hyman struck first, using the same isolation play that she’s relied on throughout the season. She took on two defenders at the top of the key before muscling past both down the right side of the lane. Hyman then shifted once more with a euro step to the left side for a reverse layup.

Then, Hyman took a charge just two minutes into the game as the Orange brought out their full-court press. On the ensuing possession, Chrislyn took her opportunity to strike from deep, finding space on the left wing for a wide-open shot to give Syracuse a 9-6 lead.

Washington answered back on the other end with a 3-pointer of her own, and the Tigers started to punish SU inside. Washington worked one-on-one on Chrislyn, getting separation for a baseline jumper with a single crossover to give Clemson the lead.

Syracuse’s press continued to tire out the Tigers though, forcing them to make basic mistakes after getting past half court. After Hyman drew a charge, she was able to get two steals off high passes on back-to-back plays.

But like they did against Boston College three days ago, the Orange were unable to turn those defensive stops into points as Alaysia Styles and Najé Murray both missed. Early in the second half, Christianna jumped to intercept a pass at half-court, quickly finding Murray at the right wing. But she airballed, unable to make a 3-pointer until early in the fourth quarter.

At one point, Hyman drew two defenders onto her at the top of the key. Hyman passed to Chrislyn in the left corner, but she airballed. Still, Hyman continued to find Chrislyn throughout the second quarter, threading a no-look pass to her directly under the basket as the Orange got back within seven. And Hyman found Styles on a few occasions too, assisting her on two of her three baskets in the period.

Syracuse’s up-and-down season came to an end with the loss to Clemson. Courtesy of ACC Athletics

But defensively, Hyman and the rest of Syracuse’s defense were unable to stop the Tigers inside in the second quarter. Washington first assisted Hank, who was left wide-open in the middle of the paint as Styles tried to close out on Washington.

With four seconds left in the half, Washington backed down Hyman in the paint for her fifth basket. But she was called for a technical foul after, allowing Hyman to score her sixth bucket of the game. Still, Washington led all scorers with 13 points heading into halftime.

Washington continued to dominate the Orange’s zone at the beginning of the second half, roaming into the lane at full speed in transition twice to extend the Tigers’ lead to 10. The Orange continued to fight back, however, with Christianna, Chrislyn and Murray aiding Hyman.

The Tigers maintained their lead late in the third quarter, matching every Syracuse basket with one of their own inside. With three minutes left in the third quarter, Murray scored her second basket of the game. The Orange had used the full-court press as early as two minutes into the game and Murray notched SU’s eighth steal, poking the ball out of Bradford’s hands right after she received the inbound.

Clemson immediately bounced back though, with Amari Robinson easily backing down Alaysia Styles at the left block. Then, Bradford got back on Murray’s earlier play, stealing the ball before sending it to Washington in transition. Washington scored, maintaining the Tigers’ 10-point lead.

“We did a really good job of looking up the floor and putting the ball in the net,” Washington said.

In the final seconds of the game, Washington struck again. Hyman took the ball up for the Orange, but like her play earlier in the period, Washington poked it out. She went to the other end alone, with Hyman simply holding her hands on her hips, giving Clemson a 19-point lead to finish regulation.

“Fighting back at the end, we kind of gave in a little bit,” Chrislyn said. “We just have to fight and keep doing it the whole time.”