The Syracuse women’s basketball team got the fast-paced game it wanted. But once Kent State responded to SU’s press by increasing the intensity even more, the Orange had no chance.

Syracuse lost to KSU, 60-49, on Saturday at Manley Field House despite playing exactly how its game plan prescribed.

The Orange (6-2) played a full-court press on defense to force a quick tempo on a Kent State (4-3) team that thrives in a half-court set. But the Golden Flashes solved the SU press and pushed the ball up the court to score easy transition baskets.

‘It was the game we wanted,’ Syracuse head coach Keith Cieplicki said. ‘In terms of what we’re trying to do with pressing and keeping the tempo up, we’ve got to score more. Besides the final score, I thought it was a pretty good game for us. The final score is important, so I don’t want to downplay that, but for where we’re trying to go and what we’re trying to do, we’re making progress.’In the beginning of the first half, it seemed like Syracuse already made a tremendous stride learning the pressure defense and transition offense. The Orange shot 82 percent from the field through the first 10 minutes of play, including 10 quick points from guard Lauren Kohn. SU’s press often confused the KSU guards, forcing 15 first-half turnovers.

But as Kent State settled down, the Syracuse offense went cold. The Orange saw its early 10-point lead dwindle to three. At halftime, SU led 27-24 despite not scoring in the final four minutes of the first half.

‘It was the story of two halves,’ Kent State head coach Bob Lindsay said. ‘The second half we played with a lot more intensity and a lot more direction. That was really the difference.’

The halftime break didn’t help SU against the Kent State defense. The Orange promptly went on a nine-minute scoring drought and never fully recovered.

Thanks to SU’s struggles on offense, it was unable to effectively use the press in the second half. Kent State pushed the ball up-court before the Orange defense could get set, leading to easy transition scores. KSU scored 11 fast break points.

‘They hurt us in the second half when they decided to shoot the ball in transition,’ Cieplicki said. ‘The bottom line is people are gonna score. As long as we’re dictating who’s scoring and from where, we’re in good shape. If people start attacking the pressure, then we have to find shooters quicker.’

KSU didn’t thrive on offense only. The Golden Flashes shut down the SU post by double teaming Syracuse center Chineze Nwagbo and establishing a physical defense. Nwagbo, the Orange’s leading scorer, tallied 10 points.

‘They played great defense,’ Nwagbo said. ‘It’s hard to make a play in a double team. I was taking what the defense was giving me and that was really nothing. You have to give Kent State the credit.’

Cieplicki wants the Orange to learn from its mistakes in the game. The physical style Kent State played is similar to what Syracuse will face once Big East play begins.

For now, SU will take the loss if it helps the Orange win games later on in the season.

‘Some of the young players are still learning the zone and the transition defense,’ Cieplicki said. ‘Those are things that are going to take time. We have to live with the curve here. I like their hardness. I don’t think we faded. We’re learning to grind it out. Let’s be honest, we could have been blown out today. We hung in and kept trying to make plays. We didn’t make them today, but at least we’re trying to make them.’

Published on December 10, 2004 at 12:00 pm