Erica Morrow rolled her eyes, almost expecting the question. Next to her, Nicole Michael shook her head.

But no matter how you slice it, the Syracuse women’s basketball team has time and time again rebounded from lackluster first-half efforts by coming out of the locker room with another identity. Physically, the Orange looks more dominant. Emotionally, it’s fired up after every big shot.

It happened again Monday in SU’s 69-55 win over Richmond in the second round of the WNIT. And that’s why, as much as she might despise the notion, Morrow knows Syracuse is an enhanced version of itself in the second half.

‘I would say, yeah, we probably are a second-half team,’ Morrow said. ‘Which isn’t a good thing. But, you know, we’re trying to clean it up.’

And the emotions — the little things — were part of the difference in SU’s latest second-half comeback Monday. In a flurry of contests this season, the Orange has come out of the locker room rejuvenated. Not just a different game plan but a different sense of urgency as well.

Facing big second-half deficits all year, SU responds by wearing its emotions on its sleeve. Realizing it’s now or never. Reacting to the pressure.

Monday was just the latest example. This occurred one game after another during Big East play. Against Notre Dame, Cincinnati, West Virginia and even Seton Hall in the Big East tournament, the Orange answered sluggish first-half performances by looking like a completely different team out of the gate in the second half.

‘It’s about responding to what the current situation is,’ Morrow said. ‘And the only time to do that is the second half.’

On this night, the difference in confidence and emotion between halves was evident. And it started at halftime, as the Orange once again found itself playing an uninspired opening half of play.

Fifteen turnovers. Only four assists. All-around sloppy play.

And the reflection of Syracuse’s first-half play was displayed frequently on the face of its head coach. Quentin Hillsman is no stranger to emotion. Pacing up and down the sideline, Hillsman looked bewildered at his team’s performance. Shaking his head, he shouted at those who committed careless turnovers.

When the Orange didn’t respond by halftime, Hillsman had a full 15 minutes to let his emotions out in the locker room.

‘On a scale of one to 10,’ Michael said of her coach’s halftime agitation, ‘maybe like a seven. And, yeah, I’ve seen 10.’

And she took action. Michael came out and put up four quick points to start the half. During timeouts, she was pumped up, not slumped over.

After Tasha Harris put the exclamation point on the game and gave SU a 10-point lead with less than 1:30 left, Michael was the first one down the floor, sprinting down to give her teammate a high-five.

But she wasn’t the only one who responded to Hillsman’s speech.

Juanita Ward added four points of her own to tie the game. She let out roars after both buckets. After big shots, she was fired up. During timeouts, she gave a fist bump or chest bump to the first teammate she found.

For the senior Ward, she knew it was now or never. That was the only thing she needed to get herself charged up.

‘This is something that, my adrenaline is pumping because of it,’ Ward said. ‘It’s either one chance or you’re out. If you’re not ready for this opportunity and seize the opportunity, then you’re not ready to play basketball. You shouldn’t be playing.’

It’s something the players can trace back to their effusive coach. When his team responded in the second half, he gave his players two thumbs up. Even if his players don’t give a thumbs up to being called a second-half team.

‘It’s one of those things where I try not to drive (the players) crazy because I’m so wired up the entire game,’ Hillsman said. ‘… I’m just really happy for our kids and really happy for our success. When they make great plays, I’m just very happy for them.’

bplogiur@syr.edu

Published on March 22, 2010 at 12:00 pm