SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Despite erasing a 17-point deficit to lead at halftime, Stony Brook women's basketball fell in non-conference play at Syracuse, 81-70, on Sunday afternoon at the Carrier Dome. With the loss, the Seawolves move to 5-2 (0-0 AE) so far this year.

Quoting Head Coach Caroline McCombs
"I thought our team really responded well today, we got down early and fought back to make it a ball game. Syracuse is going to be an excellent team in the ACC and we were right there with them until the end. There are a lot of takeaways from this game. Closing out a game on an opponents home floor will be very important for us as we move forward in the season."

Highlights

• The Seawolves shot 39.7 percent from the floor, sinking four 3-pointers in the loss.
• Shania Johnson (Frederick, MD.) had a team-high 21 points to go along with seven assists for the Seawolves. The junior transfer made four 3-pointers.
• McKenzie Bushee (Pittsburgh, PA.) had a season-high 14 points and six rebounds, shooting 7-of-9 from the field.
• Jerell Matthews (Chicago, Ill.) chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds of her own. The junior now has three double-digit point total performances in 2017-18.

Notes

• Syracuse opened the contest on a 13-0 run over the game's first 2:59. Following a timeout, the Seawolves responded with a 7-2 run of their own. Bushee scored back-to-back buckets after the break in action, then Matthews knocked down Stony Brook's first 3-pointer of the afternoon with 4:59 left in the first quarter.
• The Seawolves then held Syracuse scoreless for eight-plus minutes between the first and second quarter. The Orange made a bucket with 2:07 left in the first, then didn't score again until the 4:02 mark in the second. Stony Brook went on a 16-0 run of its own during that period of time, cutting the Syracuse lead to just one point.
• Bushee recorded 12 points and five rebounds in the first half, while Johnson tallied 11 points of her own to go along with three assists.
• Stony Brook then opened the second half with five straight points. Johnson nailed a 3-pointer, then India Pagan (New London, Conn.) converted in the paint to extend the Seawolves' lead to 39-32.
• With the loss, the Seawolves fall to 0-5 all-time vs. the ACC.

Next Up
The Seawolves return to Island Federal Credit Union Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 6 for a 7 p.m. non-conference contest vs. Yale. To purchase tickets to all 2017-18 Stony Brook women's basketball home games, CLICK HERE.