CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — On the day Baylor University retired Brittney Griner’s number, Syracuse’s Dyaisha Fair moved a step closer to passing her on the all-time scoring list with 33 points and the 19th-ranked Orange held off Virginia for an 85-79 win on Sunday.
The 5-foot-5 Fair now has 3,257 career points; 26 behind the 6-foot-9 Griner (3,283) who is fifth on the all-time scoring list.
Syracuse led 66-51 after three quarters before the Cavaliers began a methodical climb back in it to get within 77-73 on Camryn Taylor’s layup with 1:32 left. But Fair countered with a jump shot 28 seconds later and she and Georgia Woolley combined to make six free throws to seal it.
Fair finished 13-for-23 shooting including 5 for 10 from 3-point range. Woolley scored 26 points and Alaina Rice 10 for Syracuse (22-4, 12-3 ACC).
Taylor led Virginia (12-12, 4-9 ACC) with 20 points, Paris Clark 16, Kymora Johnson 15 while distributing 10 assists and Sam Brunelle 10.
The Orange built an 8-0 lead and never trailed. After the Cavaliers got on the board with a pair of free throws from Clark two minutes in, Virginia got within 14-9 with a 3-pointer by Brunelle with 5:23 left in the first quarter. But Syracuse proceeded to outscore the Cavaliers 10-1 to close the quarter to go up 24-10. Woolley scored eight points in the quarter.
Syracuse maintained control into the second and built a 45-28 advantage shooting 56.7% (17 for 30) including 58.3% (7 for 12) from 3-point range.
Both teams play Thursday. Syracuse hosts Duke and Virginia hosts Miami.
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