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Message: [QUOTE="CuseLegacy, post: 1241820, member: 469"] [SIZE=6][SIZE=4][U][B]Syracuse Athletics ‏@Cuse[/B][/U] [URL='https://twitter.com/Cuse/status/550358877662089216'][U]11m11 minutes ago[/U][/URL] Junior guard Brittney Sykes makes her return to the court for the [/SIZE][URL='https://twitter.com/CuseWBB'][U][SIZE=4]@CuseWBB[/SIZE][/U][/URL][SIZE=4] team. [/SIZE][URL='https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrangeNation?src=hash'][U][SIZE=4]#OrangeNation[/SIZE][/U][/URL][SIZE=4] [/SIZE][URL='http://t.co/mHtYjzJhRj'][U][SIZE=4]http://bit.ly/1vtL6OX[/SIZE][/U][/URL][/SIZE] [SIZE=6][B][/B] [B]Back Where She Belongs: Sykes Returns[/B][/SIZE] [SIZE=5][B]Junior guard Brittney Sykes makes return to the court[/B][/SIZE] [B]SYRACUSE, N.Y. – [/B]March 22, 2014 was a historic day for the Syracuse University women's basketball program. The squad won its first-ever NCAA Tournament game, defeating Chattanooga in the first round, 59-53. In its third try under head coach [URL='http://cuse.com/coaches.aspx?rc=944'][U]Quentin Hillsman[/U][/URL], the Orange had finally broken through. It was a memorable day for guard [URL='http://cuse.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=11088'][U]Brittney Sykes[/U][/URL], as well. Sykes put together a 13-point, 12-rebound effort against the Mocs, good enough for her third double-double of her collegiate career. With less than 13 minutes remaining in the first-round contest, the Newark, N.J. native drove to the basket and was subsequently injured on the play. She would sustain an injury to her anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in her right knee, forcing her to watch the rest of the NCAA Tournament from the sidelines. Exactly 281 days later, Sykes was back in uniform for the Orange as the club took on in-state foe Cornell on Dec. 28 in the Carrier Dome. Her name was called as one of the five starters and she played in 18 minutes, recording two points and seven rebounds on the night. With that, Sykes was officially back. "One word that sums it up is 'finally'," Sykes said upon her return. "It's been eight months away from your team, playing on the floor with them, preparing for games. It just feels good to get back and be with them on the court physically." "I didn't get too emotional until the game actually started," added Sykes. "I was pretty mellow before the game because I didn't know how to feel. It was a feeling of a long time coming. I worked hard for eight months. My teammates helped me out, the coaching staff, the training staff. I knew all I had to do was trust myself. The process had been a long one for not only Sykes, but Hillsman. The ninth-year head coach anxiously awaited the arrival of his leading returning scorer from the 2013-14 season. "I didn't sleep last night," Hillsman commented after Sykes' first game of the 2014-15 season. "She's a very important part of our program. I thought she did a good job of managing herself. We are really looking forward to her getting back and get going." Despite not playing one contest in the first 11 games of the season, Sykes has already received numerous accolades. She was named to the Preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference Team and earned Naismith Trophy Watch List honors. That is the kind of player she is. The squad did not miss a beat without Sykes, recording an 8-3 mark without the junior guard. Syracuse took both No. 1/2 South Carolina and No. 9/9 Baylor down to the wire on neutral courts. In addition, the team was ranked as high as No. 19 in the Associated Press Poll, its highest appearance in program history. "That's what great teams do," commented Sykes. "They find a way to win when they are missing pieces. Me coming back, I am just trying to find the flow and let the game come to me. I am going to help my team anyway I can. If I am not scoring, I am rebounding. There's other ways you can help your team other than scoring." Sykes was once again in the starting lineup on Tuesday night in the team's final non-conference game of the regular season against Central Connecticut State. She tallied five points, four rebounds, two assists, three steals, and a blocked shot against the Blue Devils as the team rolled to a 74-43 win. A very dangerous team without its leading scorer from a year ago, the No. 21/22 Orange looks even stronger heading into Atlantic Coast Conference play with Sykes now in the rotation. Syracuse opens conference play on Sunday afternoon with a matchup against No. 4/4 Notre Dame. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. The game will be broadcast live on RSN, check with your local cable provider for listings [/QUOTE]

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