Fondren Big on the Boards

PITTSBURGH – Junior Cornelia Fondren of the No. 23/22 Syracuse University women's basketball team is certainly not your typical 5-foot-8 guard. Not often does a guard account for more than 14 percent of a squad's total rebounding, but that is the type of player Fondren is.

In her third season as a member of the Orange, Fondren has shown that she will do anything for the betterment of the team. After starting all but one game at point guard as a true freshman, she came off the bench every contest last year. In 2014-15, Syracuse has employed a three-guard, and sometimes four-guard, lineup, where she is asked to perform more as a forward.

The Memphis, Tenn. native has thrived in that role. Currently, she ranks second on the team in rebounding, averaging 6.2 boards per game. Even more impressive is her offensive rebounding, where she averages 3.16 offensive rebounds per contest. On Thursday night at RV/- Pittsburgh, Fondren came up with some big plays down the stretch, including a clutch offensive board.

With Syracuse clinging to a four-point lead with one minute remaining, sophomore guard Alexis Peterson was shooting two free throws. Peterson made the first, but missed the second. Fondren came in soaring, grabbing the board, and keeping the host Panthers from getting closer in an eight-point victory.

"Cornelia played well," head coach Quentin Hillsman said after the game. "I have to give her a lot of credit. I thought she did an awesome job of competing."

In all, Fondren recorded her third double-double of her collegiate career at Pittsburgh. She tallied 13 points, one shy of her career-best, and 10 rebounds, also one less than her personal-high. The junior guard and sophomore center Briana Day each tallied double-doubles for the third time in 2014-15.

"That's all you can ask for," added Hillsman. "When you are grinding like that and you win that game, I give them a lot of credit."

The glass is not the only place where Fondren contributes. She ranks second on the team in assists and steals, averaging 2.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game for the Orange. In addition, her 7.2 points per game average is the fifth-best average on the team.

When it comes down to, Fondren is proving she is one of the many players on this team who will do anything for Syracuse succeed in 2014-15. It has proven work out fairly well so far, as the squad won its fourth straight game with its victory at Pittsburgh and has been ranked in the top 25 of both major national polls in every ranking release this year.

Fondren and the Syracuse women's basketball team returns home on Sunday afternoon when they host North Carolina State at 3 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. The game will be televised on RSN/FOX. In addition, Sunday's contest is Team Day and the 'Cuse Carnival.

Syracuse University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Briana Day

Cornelia Fondren

Alexis Peterson

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