Brittney Sykes hits 20 points for third game in a row as No. 23 Syracuse dumps Niagara 80-44

Dec 20, 2013, 12:04 am

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Brittney Sykes scored 20 points and Isabella Slim added 17 more to lead No. 23 Syracuse to an 80-44 win over Niagara on Thursday night.

Syracuse (10-1) opened the game with a 22-6 run to build a lead that was never challenged. Sykes was 6 of 9 from the field and a perfect 8 for 8 from the foul line, making it the third straight game she's scored at least 20 points. Shakeya Leary contributed 13 points for the Orange.

Niagara (2-6) trailed 44-23 at the break and chipped away at the gap in the second half but was unable to catch up. The Purple Eagles shot just 27.1 percent from the field and had 27 turnovers, more than twice as many as Syracuse.

Val McQuade led Niagara with 11 points, while Chanel Johnson scored eight points and pulled in a game-high nine rebounds.