For two straight seasons, Syracuse and Virginia have played highly competitive, down-to-the-wire contests. Both times, Syracuse has pulled off last-minute victories.

Last November at the San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico, Virginia took a one-point lead with 8.5 seconds remaining in the game, but then-Syracuse senior Lacie Hall drained two free throws to seal a 74-73 Syracuse win.

On Sunday at the Carrier Dome, Syracuse (15-5, 4-3 ACC) defeated Virginia (10-10, 3-4 ACC) 84-75, but only led by four points with one minute to go in regulation. Hall’s heroics were replaced by the clutch play of Rachel Coffey, whose composure with the ball and knack for making clutch shots propelled the Orange.

“I thought Rachel Coffey was tremendous,” said Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman. “And any time we needed a big shot, she was open and she knocked it down, and that’s her game. She’s a tremendous player and she really did an awesome job of just willing us to win.”

Coffey finished with a season-high 17 points – including a 3-point buzzer-beater before halftime – while dishing out six assists and only committing one turnover. The point guard hit shots and found her teammates when Syracuse needed it most.

The senior from Kingston, N.Y., hit a 3-pointer 25 seconds into the game. Minutes later she assisted on a Brianna Butler 3 to give SU an early 6-4 lead.

“I was just making shots,” Coffey said. “Really the first half of the game got me going … I had in my head, ‘Keep shooting.’”

With Syracuse trailing 26-20, Coffey checked into the game and immediately picked up two assists, finding Brittney Sykes and Cornelia Fondren for back-to-back jumpers to cut the deficit to 26-24.

Ten seconds after subbing in with 1:02 to go in the half, Coffey hit a 3-pointer to put the Orange ahead 34-33, its first lead in more than 16 minutes.

Coffey’s biggest shot, and the one that elicited the biggest eruption from the home crowd, came with three seconds to go in the half. With two Virginia defenders draped in front of her face, Coffey connected on long 3 before the buzzer sounded.

“It was a lot of luck, I’m not gonna lie,” Coffey said. “It was big, but I didn’t expect it to go in.”

About 2:30 into the second half, Coffey found center Shakeya Leary, who hit a mid-range jump shot. On the next possession, Coffey nailed a 3 from the left wing to put the Orange ahead 49-35.

And when the game got close, Coffey perked up.

With SU trailing 59-58, Coffey received a kick-out pass from Leary and nailed another 3 – giving the Orange the lead once again. With the Cavaliers within four with 1:18 left, Coffey hit two free throws to all but put the game away.

On Sunday, the since-graduated Hall remembered how intense last season’s matchup against Virginia was. Hall recalled going up to shoot the last-second layup and being surrounded by UVA jerseys.

Just like Coffey was on the buzzer-beating 3.

“I knew that if I made the first free throw, I was good, and the second wouldn’t be so stressful,” Hall said. “The second shot went through and I was relieved and excited all at once.”

Sunday was no different. After finishing with 3 points in last season’s game against Virginia, Coffey finished with a season-high 17 – the same point total as last year’s hero: Hall.

Said Hillsman: “We were fortunate to play them on a neutral site and on our home floor, so we haven’t played them on their home court yet … Next year, I’m sure it’ll be another good one.”

Published on January 26, 2014 at 8:39 pm

Contact Josh: jmhyber@syr.edu