No. 25 Syracuse women hold off No. 13 North Carolina 61-56

Feb 5, 2015, 09:35 pm

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Alexis Peterson scored 20 points, including the clinching free throws with four seconds left, and No. 25 Syracuse finally broke through in its third-straight game against a ranked team, holding off No. 13 North Carolina 61-56 on Thursday.

The Orange (16-7, 6-4 ACC), coming off loses to No. 8 Louisville and No. 9 Florida State on the road, held the Tar Heels (18-5, 5-4) 20 points below their season average.

Taylor Ford added 12 points for Syracuse, which led 29-19 at the half.

A basket by Jessica Washington and 3-pointers by Latifah Coleman and Washington gave North Carolina a 50-49 lead with 5:18 to play but the Orange scored the next eight points, capped by Ford's 3 with 2:02 to go.

Stephanie Mavunga, who led the Tar Heels with 14 points and 13 rebounds, ended the drought with a pair of free throws at 1:45 and they cut it to three with 17 seconds left before Peterson clinched it.