When Diamond Henderson found herself mired in a 5-for-32 shooting slump that spanned three games in the middle of December, she decided she needed to make conscious changes.

After practices, she’d stay late and not leave until she made 100 3s. During games, she’d look to attack and get to the free-throw line as opposed to living around the perimeter.

For much of the early season, she showed only inconsistent flashes of being the prized transfer guard that chose to spend her final year of eligibility at Syracuse.

“For the first time in a long time I would have a crew with me and not out there doing a lot of work by myself,” Henderson said, “so I just knew that scoring is what I’d do best, so I just had to come out and do what I do best.”

After a rocky start to the season, Henderson’s much-hyped scoring ability came to fruition in Syracuse’s 74-72 loss to Baylor on Dec. 19. The senior erupted for 27 points and helped keep the Orange afloat in a game that it trailed in early on. Since then, she’s scored 16, 14 and 15 points, respectively, in each of SU’s last three games, her longest double-digit scoring stretch of the season.

It’s a streak she’ll have a chance to continue when No. 21 Syracuse (10-3) opens up Atlantic Coast Conference play on Sunday against No. 4 Notre Dame (13-1) at 1 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.

“She’s a natural scorer, and she’s finding a way to put points on the board,” SU head coach Quentin Hillsman said. “Obviously, when you have a player that can do that, you want to take advantage of that skill set.”

Hillsman said before the season that he hoped Henderson would counter the scoring drop-off that would follow the injury to star guard Brittney Sykes. Now, even with Sykes back, Henderson’s finding ways to make herself a threat offensively.

But when Syracuse played North Carolina Central on Dec. 14, the shooting stroke that Henderson has since proved capable of was nowhere to be found. Despite playing only 16 minutes, she shot 1-of-12 from the field, with her only make coming with 50 seconds left to play in the 45-point Syracuse win.

Hillsman employs a strict shoot-if-you’re-open rule that applies to all of the Syracuse shooters, Henderson said. And while it may be a crutch on a bad shooting day, she admitted that shooting is the best way to get out of a slump.

With her recent surge, she’s become second on the team with a 3-point percentage of 35.2. Her 12.2 points per game are good for 27th in the ACC. Just weeks ago she was averaging only 9.7.

“I knew from the jump that she was a great scorer. And while watching her, I try to learn from her,” Sykes said. “She’s a fifth-year, she’s been in college longer than me playing college basketball. So to learn from a scorer like her and pick up some things, it was good for me.”

Regardless of the ups and downs she’s had on the court this season, just having a fifth-year senior’s presence has been beneficial for a team that has only one other player on the roster in her final year of eligibility.

And now, all the expectations that followed Henderson to Syracuse are starting to come together for her.

“I think I’m playing alright,” Henderson said. “I don’t think I’ve played my best basketball yet, but overall, I think I’ve been playing alright. You can only build from here.”

Published on January 3, 2015 at 6:35 pm

Contact Sam: sblum@syr.edu | @SamBlum3