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CIEPLICKI GOES FOR CAREER WIN #150
Syracuse University head coach Keith Cieplicki can earn his 150th career victory versus Canisius. The Orange mentor holds a 149-92 (.618) overall mark in his eight-plus seasons coaching Division I women’s basketball. Cieplicki, now in his third year at the helm of the SU women’s program, is 22-39 (.361) as head coach of the Orange. Prior to coming to the Hill, Cieplicki served as the head coach of the Vermont women’s basketball program for six seasons. During his tenure with the Catamounts, Cieplicki compiled a 127-53 (.706) record and is Vermont’s all-time winningest coach. He guided the Catamounts to four 20-win seasons and was named the America East Coach of the Year twice. In 1999-2000, his Vermont club won the America East Tournament title, posted a 15-3 league record, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Last year, Cieplicki guided the Orange to a 13-16 overall record, an increase of seven victories from its 6-21 campaign in 2003-04. It was the biggest one-year turnaround in 10 seasons at SU.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIFFINS
After beginning 2005-06 with consecutive victories, Canisius has lost its last two both in overtime. The Golden Griffins fell 93-86 at Binghamton on Nov. 26 and 73-68 at home to Boston University. Thirteen of the 14 players on the Golden Griffins’ roster have seen action this year and Canisius has eight players that are averaging at least 6.0 points per game. Three players own a scoring average in double figures. Megan Lyte leads the way at 15.0 ppg. Abby Radunske (10.5 ppg) and Amanda Cavo (10.0 ppg) rank second and third, respectively, in scoring average. Radunske is the team’s top rebounder at 6.3 boards per outing. As a team, the Golden Griffins lead the MAAC in scoring at 78.8 points per game. Canisius has gone over the 80-point mark twice already this year. In addition to its season-high 86 points against the Bearcats, the Golden Griffins put up 84 in a win against Cornell. Canisius is shooting 43.4 percent (105-242) as a team, the second-best mark in the league. The Golden Griffins are averaging 7.3 three’s per game and they are shooting 37.7 percent from behind the arc for the year (29-77).
THE SYRACUSE-CANISIUS SERIES
SU and Canisius renew their rivalry almost 10 years to the day of their last meeting, a 92-54 decision in favor of the Orange on Dec. 3, 1995. Syracuse has won eight of the nine meetings between the two clubs. The only time the Golden Griffins got the better of the Orange was on Dec. 5, 1991 by the score of 72-63.
Syracuse vs. Canisius Facts & Figures
All-Time Series: SU leads, 8-1
First Meeting: Dec. 2, 1979 (Syracuse 87, Canisius 79)
Last Meeting: Dec. 3, 1995 (Syracuse 92, Canisius 54)
Last 10 Meetings: See Series Record
Current Streak: SU, 2
Coach Cieplicki’s Record vs. Canisius: 2-0 (at Vermont)
ORANGE LIGHTS UP COLGATE
Syracuse’s offense came alive in its most recent outing versus Colgate on Nov. 29. The Orange racked up a season-high 92 points against the Raiders in a 92-56 thrashing of its Central New York neighbor at Manley Field House. The scoring outburst represented the most points scored by the Orange during the Keith Cieplicki era and it was the most points SU hung on an opponent since it put up 93 at West Virginia on Feb. 3, 2001. It’s 36-point margin of victory against the Raiders is the largest since that same West Virginia contest. The Orange knocked off the Mountaineers by 39 points, 93-54, that day in Morgantown. SU connected on a season-high 35 field goals against Colgate and shot a season-best .515 (35-68) from the field. The Orange knocked down five 3-pointers in the game and converted a season-high 17 free-throw attempts. SU’s 35 field goals made was the most since it drained 35 versus Georgetown on Jan. 19, 2002 - a span of 103 games.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Sophomore center Vaida Sipaviciute put on the most impressive displays in Syracuse women’s basketball history against Colgate on Nov. 29. Sipaviciute set the Orange single-game record with 41 points, breaking the previous mark of 39 established by Holly Oslander against Boston College in 1991. Sipaviciute also pulled down 21 rebounds, becoming the third player in school history to grab 20 boards in one game. Sipaviciute’s rebound total was the second-highest single-season total in team history behind Sue Scholl’s team record 24 caroms versus Rochester in 1978. Sipaviciute hit 16-of-25 attempts from the field and knocked down a career-best 9-of-13 free throws (.692). Her 16 made field goals is tied with Oslander for second-most in team history. Earlier this season, Sipaviciute set another Orange single-game mark taking 28 shots at Niagara on Nov. 23. Against Colgate, she became the first player since Rochelle Coleman in 2002 to score 20 points in one half. Sitting on 39 points, Sipaviciute went to the free throw line with 5:04 left in the game and connected on a pair of charity shots to claim the record. She was subquently removed from the contest by Coach Keith Cieplicki to a standing ovation from the Manley Field House faithful.
RIGHT INTO THE FIRE
Freshman Lina Lisnere was thrown right into the thick of things in her first career game against Colgate. Lisnere started at power forward and contributed seven points and nine rebounds in 27 minutes of action. She also got her teammates involved, recording five assists against the Raiders. Lisnere was the fourth of SU’s five freshmen to earn a start this season. She missed the Orange’s first four contests of the year because of a foot injury suffered in practice prior to SU’s season opener at Manhattan. Before she got hurt, Lisnere dominated Bishop’s and Le Moyne in SU’s two exhibition games. She paced the Orange, averaging 16.5 points per game in the preseason. The 6-3 forward showed her versatility in the two games, stepping outside the 3-point arc and connecting on 5-of-9 3-point attempts.
JOHNSON’S EVERYWHERE
Freshman point guard Cintia Johnson almost achieved a rare double-double versus Colgate on Nov. 29. The Syracuse native set career highs with eight steals and eight assists versus the Raiders. For the season, Johnson leads the Orange in both categories (4.4 apg, 2.2 spg). She has notched at least one steal in every game thus far. Johnson is already approaching the top 15 seasons by a rookie in both categories. Johnson has started four of SU’s five games and is averaging 27.4 minutes per game and 2.8 points per outing. Against Sacred Heart, her only appearance off the bench, Johnson tallied a season-high six points in 17 minutes.
