Women's Basketball

Hillsman: Sykes progressing, head coach hopeful of potential replacement Henderson

Syracuse women’s basketball head coach Quentin Hillsman said that second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference shooting guard Brittney Sykes has “progressed along great.” When asked if she could play this season, Hillsman said “sure.”

Sykes tore her ACL and meniscus during SU’s opening-round NCAA tournament win over Chattanooga on March 22. She fell to the ground driving to the basket and was carried off the court, and the Orange was eliminated two nights later in the second round against Kentucky.

Hillsman would not put a timetable on Sykes’ return, but said that her recovery process has gone well thus far.

“She’s doing well,” Hillsman said. “The rehabbing is going well, and she’s working very hard. We’re not going to rush her back. We want her to come back 100 percent.”

Should Sykes miss time, Hillsman said he expects Tennessee Tech transfer Diamond Henderson to make immediate scoring contributions for Syracuse. Henderson averaged 19.7 points for the Golden Eagles in 2013.



“Diamond was recruited by a lot of high major universities and chose Tennessee Tech,” Hillsman said. “She’s going to have an immediate impact for us, and we need her to contribute right away.”





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