Tiana Mangakahia returns from cancer to lead Orange past Stony Brook./
Tiana Mangakahia’s return from a battle with breast cancer was impressive as she had 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists to lead No. 23 Syracuse past Stony Brook 50-39 on Sunday.
She grabbed the rebound when Stony Brook misfired on its first possession, drove down the court and found Amaya Finklea- Guity for the first points of the game. A few minutes later she made a steal and drove down the court to make it 4-0.
Mangakahia, who missed all of last season after undergoing chemotherapy and then a double mastectomy in November, had not played a competitive game in 615 days.
After the game she told Syracuse.com, “I was very emotional and I couldn’t believe this day was here.”
Mangakahia went 4for-13 from the field but 7-for-8 from the foul line. She also had five turnovers.
She played 36 minutes and prior to the game pronounced herself at 85 percent.
She is Syracuse’s alltime assist leader with 591 and led the nation with 9.8 assists per game in 201718.
The Orange (1-0) shot 29 percent in their season opener, going 2-for-18 from 3-point range, and had 21 turnovers. However, they held the Seawolves (0-2) to 21 percent shooting, 3-for-24 behind the arc, and forced 22 turnovers.
Freshman Kamilla Cardoso added 14 points for Syracuse.
Nairimar Vargas-reyes led Stony Brook with 11 points.
S. Carolina 79: Gonzaga
72: Destanni Henderson scored a career-high 23 points to help No. 1 South Carolina top 21st-ranked Gonzaga in the second straight game in which the Gamecocks faced a tough challenge from their opponent.
Louisville 101, E. Kentucky
58: Hailey Van Lith scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead No. 5 Louisville to a victory in its home opener.
Miss. St. 88, Jackson St.
58: Preseason ALL-SEC player Rickea Jackson was one of four Mississippi State players to score in double figures as the No. 6 Bulldogs routed Jackson State.
Arizona 76, N. Arizona 63:
Cate Reese scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Aari Mcdonald added 18 points and No, 7 Arizona opened its season with a victory.
NC State 108, NC Central 70: Elissa Cunane’s 17 points led six players in double figures for No. 8 N.C. State in a rout.
Kentucky 70, Belmont 50:
Dre’una Edwards scored a career-high 27 points, matched her career best with 15 rebounds and No. 11 Kentucky pulled away.
Maryland 115, Arkansas 96:
Katie Benzan scored a careerhigh 28 points, drained eight 3-pointers, led five Terrapins into double-figure scoring as No. 12 Maryland roared past No. 14 Arkansas.
Ohio St. 82, Duquesne 47: Jacy Sheldon scored 20 points, Dorka Juhasz had a doubledouble and No. 20 Ohio State overwhelmed Duquesne in the season opener for both teams.
Notre Dame 88, Miami (Ohio) 68: Destinee Walker scored 24 pointsand No. 22 Notre Dame gave new head coach Niele Ivey her first victory.
Wake Forest 68, Missouri
St. 59: Ivana Raca scored 10 of her 23 points in the third quarter as Wake Forest pulled away from No. 24 Missouri State.