Peterson scores record 45, Orange beat No. 23 NC St women

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Alexis Peterson scored 28 of her school-record 45 points in the second half and Syracuse took control in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 23 North Carolina State 85-75 on Thursday night.

Peterson had eight points as the Orange scored the first 13 points of the fourth quarter, erasing an eight-point deficit. Her 3-pointer tied it at 62 and she followed with another 3 to put Syracuse up for good.

Peterson finished 11 of 23 from the field, 6 of 10 from 3-point range and 17 of 19 from the foul line. She finished with 22 points in the fourth quarter, making all 12 of her free throws in the final two minutes.

The Wolfpack had a 13-point lead in the second quarter and were up 44-32 at the half but the Orange stormed back to tie the game at 54 late in the third. Miah Spencer then converted a 3-point play and Kaila Ealey banked in a half-court 3-pointer as NC State scored the last eight points.

Brittney Sykes had 17 points and moved into seventh place on the career scoring list with 1,536 for Syracuse (13-5, 4-1 ACC). Peterson, who goes by @_PistolPete1 on Twitter, surpassed the 41 points Vaida Sipaviciute scored against Colgate on Nov. 29, 2005.

All five starters scored in double figures for the Wolfpack (13-5, 3-2), who were outscored by 18 at the foul line. Chelsea Nelson had 18 points and Spencer had 14 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.