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ORANGE BATTLES SECOND STRAIGHT AMERICA EAST NEMESIS
The Orange hit the road to play its second consecutive game versus an America East Conference opponent when it visits Albany on Dec. 20. Syracuse tangled with the Binghamton Bearcats in its most recent outing on Dec. 17. Binghamton handed the Orange a 74-52 loss at the Carrier Dome. Albany enters the game with a 3-4 overall record. The contest will mark the Great Danes first game in more than two weeks. The last time Albany took the court was on Dec. 4 when it posted a 58-54 win versus Columbia in the third-place game of the Contra Costa Times Classic, hosted by the University of California.
SU VERSUS THE AMERICA EAST
The Orange’s match-up versus Albany is the second of back-to-back duels with America East opponents. SU lost 74-52 versus Binghamton on Dec. 17. Syracuse holds a 24-12 all-time record against teams that are currently members of the league. Syracuse has nine victories against Boston University, the most triumphs against any squad currently in the conference. Orange head coach Keith Cieplicki is familiar with the conference, having coached Vermont from 1998-2003. He guided the Catamounts to the NCAA Tournament in 1999-00 and two first-place finishes while at the school. Cieplicki amassed 80 victories versus America East foes during his time at Vermont and averaged 13.3 league triumphs per year in six seasons there.
BEARCATS CAGE ORANGE
Binghamton handed Syracuse its second loss in three games, 72-54, at the Carrier Dome on Dec. 17. The Bearcats’ defense limited SU star Vaida Sipaviciute to 10 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field. It was the first time in seven games Sipaviciute didn’t reach the 20-point mark, ending her school-record streak of 20+-point performances. Tracy Harbut paced the Orange, scoring 19 points for the second consecutive game. She also chipped in with six rebounds and six assists. Syracuse never led in the game as the Bearcats jumped out to an 11-2 advantage and Binghamton owned a 44-23 margin at the break. SU opened the second half with a 13-2 scoring spurt to make the score 46-36 with 14:06 to play, but the Bearcats outscored the hosts, 20-8, over the next 8:24 to claim a 66-44 advantage and cruised to the victory.
SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES
Albany’s clash with the Orange will be their first game in 16 days. Most recently, the Great Danes participated in the Contra Costa Times Classic, hosted by the University of California. After losing to UNLV by the score of 78-56 on Dec. 3, Albany bounced back with a 58-54 triumph versus Columbia to claim third place. It marked the second regular-season tournament for Coach Trina Patterson’s unit. Albany tipped off its season with two games in the St. Bonaventure Tournament. The Great Danes fell 59-49 in the championship game of that event. Albany’s game against the Orange is just the second home appearance for the Great Danes. They defeated Morgan State 66-56 in their home opener on Nov. 26. Tanika Thrower is averaging 22.8 minutes per game and is the team’s top scorer at 12.5 points per outing. Jen Schumacher, the team’s top 3-point shooter with 15 trifectas, is also in double figures at 11.7 points per contest. Joy Sterling is Albany’s best rebounder at 8.0 boards per game and Kirsten Peterson is averaging 7.6 caroms per contest, including 3.6 offensive rebounds per game. On defense, the Great Danes have averaged 8.7 steals per game and are forcing 17.1 turnovers per outing.
THE SYRACUSE-ALBANY SERIES
The Orange won the only meeting between these two schools, 66-56, on Dec. 7, 2004 at Manley Field House. Amanda Adamson, making her first career start, netted a personal-best 14 points versus the Great Danes. The Orange also got a career performance from Krystalyn Ellerbe, who scored 13 points in the win. SU trailed by one, 29-28, at the half, but outscored the Great Danes, 38-27, in the second half to claim the victory.
Syracuse vs. Albany Facts & Figures
All-Time Series: SU leads, 1-0
First Meeting: Dec. 7, 2004 (Syracuse 66, Albany 56)
Last Meeting: See first meeting
Last 10 Meetings: See all-time series record
Current Streak: SU, 1
Coach Cieplicki’s Record vs. Albany: 4-0 (3-0 at Vermont, 1-0 at Syracuse)
