No. 17 Syracuse beats NC State 80-61 in ACC quarterfinals

Mar 4, 2016, 10:42 pm

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Alexis Peterson scored 18 points and No. 17 Syracuse scored 29 points off turnovers to beat North Carolina State 80-61 in Friday's quarterfinals at the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

Brianna Butler added 17 points for the third-seeded Orange (24-6), who used their fullcourt pressure to harass the Wolfpack into 18 turnovers. Syracuse also made 12 3-pointers, including five straight in the third quarter after N.C. State had fought its way to a two-point lead.

Butler hit 5 of 10 3s for the game, while Taylor Ford hit three and Peterson added two more during the game-turning burst.

Syracuse advanced to Saturday's semifinals to play No. 7 Louisville, one of only two teams to beat the Orange in the last 15 games.

Miah Spencer scored 22 points to lead the sixth-seeded Wolfpack (20-11), whose loss ensured this would be the first time none of the four North Carolina-based schools reached the semifinals.