Elashier Hall stepped to the free-throw line against Virginia with 0.4 seconds on the clock and Syracuse down one point. The pressure was on, but Hall claims she wasn’t nervous at all.

“I was like ‘Maybe I should be a little more nervous,’” Hall said. ‘“Why aren’t you more nervous?’ Maybe it’s the veteran in me that isn’t nervous.”

She calmly drained both free throws, igniting the Orange to victory and propelling SU to a 2-0 finish at the San Juan (Puerto Rico) Shootout back in November.

Her play has been consistent all season, as she’s averaged 10.7 points and 6.1 rebounds overall and notched her 1,000th point in a win over Cincinnati. Her consistency will come into play yet again when Syracuse (20-3, 8-2 Big East) takes on Pittsburgh (9-14, 0-10) in the Carrier Dome at 2 p.m Saturday. The guard has scored in double figures in five straight games.

“Coming in, you hope you can get kids that can have success, and she’s had a big career,” Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman said.

Every game, regardless of her health, the quality of the opponent or what her team needs from her, Hall goes out and plays hard. She’s been a rock for the Orange for four years, and is now thriving in her senior leadership role.

Hall has played in all of Syracuse’s games the past two seasons, starting in all but one. When Kayla Alexander, Brittney Sykes or Carmen Tyson-Thomas is having an off night, Hall’s often there to pick up the slack.

“Lacie’s an inside-out type player,” Tyson-Thomas said. “She’s very consistent with what she does. She drives, she’s going to pull up. She’s everywhere.”

In a win over Georgia Tech back at the San Juan Shootout, she dropped 15 points, snatched 11 rebounds and came away with five steals.

Hall’s ability to excel in all facets of the game serves Syracuse well, because whatever the team is lacking, she’s there to provide.

In SU’s win over Cincinnati on Feb. 5, Hall posted 23 points, eight rebounds and two steals, igninting her team to victory.

“She’s always been one of our hybrid players, and we know she’s going to play a lot of minutes,” Tyson-Thomas said. “That matters to us, because she’s a key part of our offense.”

In that Cincinnati game, she also reached an historic milestone, becoming just the 23rd player in Syracuse history to score 1,000 career points.  She did so in style, leading Syracuse in scoring while shooting 7-of-13 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.

“Good for her,” Hillsman said of the accomplishment after the game. “It’s an unbelievable feat, and to come out (tonight) and have a good game and play well. It’s a testament to her work ethic.”

Hall joined Alexander and Tyson-Thomas, who already cemented their names in the record books, each scoring over 1,000 points on their career.

The 5-foot-11 guard does most of her damage in the paint, but if she’s left open on the perimeter, she can knock down 3-pointers efficiently. Hall has drilled at least one 3 in four of her last five games, shooting 6-of-13 during that span.

While Hall will pass the baton over to freshmen Sykes and Brianna Butler after this season, right now is her time to lead with Alexander and Tyson-Thomas.

She showed that leadership with her clutch free throws and in momentous wins over Georgetown, DePaul and Seton Hall.

When Hall rolls, so does the Orange. Her play down the stretch will be key in Syracuse’s ability to flourish in the Big East tournament and possibly the NCAA tournament.

“Over the last four years she’s done what she’s supposed to do,” Tyson-Thomas said. “I think that’s very important for us.”

Published on February 14, 2013 at 2:17 am

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass