Erica Morrow realizes Kayla Alexander’s size will provide the Syracuse women’s basketball team with something that was out of its reach last year. Following SU’s 65-45 victory over Farleigh Dickinson Friday, Morrow wanted everyone in the postgame press room to grasp Alexander’s importance as well.

In order to drive the point home, Morrow grabbed Alexander’s arm, raised it as high as she possibly could to the ceiling and laughed. For the 5-foot-8 Morrow, the benefits of the 6-foot-4 Alexander, the team’s tallest player, will be crucial.

‘It definitely helps,’ Morrow said, as she tugged on Alexander’s left arm. ‘She is much taller than me. It is a big help. I know a lot of plays we can just toss the ball up there and we know that she will go get it. She is tall, she is athletic and she is long. She is the perfect center.’

Alexander exceeded expectations in her debut. The gangly rookie nearly recorded a double-double, tallying nine points and eight rebounds in only 17 minutes. With her height and length, Alexander changed the game as soon as she took the floor less than three minutes into the game. She hauled in three offensive rebounds and drew a slew of fouls as a result, leading to five free-throw attempts.

‘I know she did way better than I did in my first game,’ Morrow said.

With 11:49 remaining in the second half, it seemed certain that Alexander would record the double-double. But with the lead increasing to 13 points, Hillsman decided take her out of the game.

Alexander jogged off of the court to an ovation by the Carrier Dome crowd with a distinct lope, and received many high-fives from her teammates. The calm canter gave a clue to her raw tendencies, even with the standout performance.

But Alexander’s night wasn’t completely flawless. Alexander shot only 33 percent from the field and missed two free throws.

‘It was just a first college game thing,’ Hillsman said of Alexander’s early struggles. ‘She missed a few things at the rim that she didn’t miss the whole preseason. I think it’s just her having some freshman jitters. She won’t have those jitters on Monday, I’ll tell you that.’

It took some time for Alexander to settle in. Early on, it appeared as if she was still getting a feel for things as she ran from block to block, white knee braces and all. With arms awkwardly resting in right angles by her side, Alexander appeared tense.

Hillsman believed, though, that the early struggles would dissipate. This is his prized recruit, arguably the one he coveted most in this year’s class – the one player he needed to have.

‘Kayla is amazing,’ Hillman said. ‘I’m glad she is here. That was one of the things when we were recruiting her that was one of the players we said we had to get. If we didn’t get anybody else in the class, we had to get her. And that was our number one priority.’

As she stood behind the podium for the first time in her collegiate career following the game, the subdued freshman remained steady and composed — much like her demeanor over the course of the preceding 17 minutes on the floor.

‘That’s quite the compliment,’ Alexander said of Hillsman’s high praise. ‘I just have to keep on working hard to try and live up to that standard.’

After only one game, Alexander raised her bar high. But for the team’s tallest player, it’s one she feels she can definitely surpass.

Even if Morrow can’t reach it.

‘It was nice to get the nerves out,’ Alexander said of her performance. ‘But I think I can do better than I did today.’

aolivero@syr.edu

Published on November 14, 2009 at 12:00 pm