The endgame scenario told the story.

At the conclusion of a night where Syracuse was able to impose its will against Providence by getting to the free-throw line 32 times — 19 more than the Friars — it was the few shots the Orange couldn’t hit from the stripe that cost it the game.

Down by three with time running out, Syracuse missed a 3-pointer, hauled in an offensive rebound, missed again, hauled in another offensive rebound and drew a foul. Two missed free throws later, the game was effectively over. SU (15-3, 2-3 Big East) fell one point short of the Friars (12-6, 3-2), with the game ending 71-69.

It wasn’t about what Syracuse did well Tuesday night. Rather when they didn’t do things well. Much to the dismay of head coach Quentin Hillsman, that time came at the end of the game.

‘The last seven or eight opportunities down the floor we had shots, but we just didn’t get it done,’ Hillsman said in a phone interview after the game. ‘It’s just one of those things. I guess I’m most unpleased with the opportunities to win the basketball game where we didn’t take advantage.’

At the end of the game the free-throw line was where the Orange could not take advantage of the opportunities Hillsman was speaking of. Despite shooting 75 percent for the entirety of the game on 24-of-32 shooting, the Orange missed free throws when they counted. The end result was a tough loss, and to Hillsman there was perhaps no better place to point to for the setback.

‘Seventy-five percent is not a bad percentage,’ Hillsman said. ‘If I could shoot 75 percent every night I would take that. But it’s not about how many we missed, it’s more about when we missed.’

But Syracuse perhaps wouldn’t have even been in the situation to sweat over last-second free throws if it weren’t for two things. Two harsh realities for the team that Hillsman and the rest of the squad will have to combat moving further into Big East play — Tasha Harris’ ankle injury and Nicole Michael’s tendency to get into foul trouble.

Harris, SU’s starting point guard who is averaging 22.2 minutes a game, injured her ankle in SU’s last loss, a 73-64 setback against South Florida in Tampa. The junior tried to fight through the injury in practice and made the trip to Providence, but once she got off the plane, Hillsman knew the reality of the situation.

‘She got off the plane and wasn’t able to play,’ Hillsman said. ‘She needed to be held out. She would’ve played, but we weren’t going to risk it with her getting in.’

Sophomore guard Lynnae Lampkins started in place of Harris and had a ‘decent game,’ according to Hillsman, in 15 minutes of action.

In yet another game, senior leader Michael found herself in foul trouble Tuesday night. Michael was only able to play 19 minutes against the Friars, and as a result scored just eight points on 3-of-13 shooting from the field.

And to Hillsman, those 21 minutes on the bench for Michael may be 21 too many.

‘It takes everything from us,’ Hillsman said of Michael’s recurring foul trouble. ‘It takes someone who requires attention off the floor. When you have Nicole Michael on the floor for 19 minutes, you are not going to win those games.’

Just like other facets of Syracuse’s play Tuesday night and thus far this season, Hillsman points Michael’s foul trouble toward hustle. He knows his team and star player play hard every night. The proof is there as the Orange dominated in free-throw attempts.

But in the end, it all goes back to that one thing. When it all happens. Tuesday night for Hillsman, Michael and the rest of the Orange, it simply didn’t occur at the right time.

‘It’s kind of hard to explain,’ Hillsman said. ‘It’s hustle plays. She’s playing really hard, it’s just one of those things where that one foul you wish she could have taken back.’

aolivero@syr.edu

Published on January 19, 2010 at 12:00 pm