Game Notes (.pdf)
THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA
The Orange’s game verus Massachusetts marks the beginning of a new era for Syracuse women’s basketball. The contest is the first game for SU in its new home - the Carrier Dome. It’s the Orange’s first contest in the facility in more than a decade. The Orange will play 10 of its final 11 home games this season in the building. Ironically enough, SU’s first-ever Dome appearance was against the Minutewomen on Jan. 16, 1981. Each of SU’s home conference games this year will be contested in the Dome with the exception of the home finale versus St. John’s on Feb. 25, 2006. The Orange are 12-3 (.800) all-time in the Dome and posted nine consecutive Dome victories from 1982-83 through 1986-87.
SYRACUSE DROPS BIG EAST OPENER AT PITTSBURGH
The Orange began BIG EAST competition on Dec. 8 with a 67-55 loss at the Petersen Events Center to the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Panthers jumped on SU early, claiming a 21-4 advantage with 13:36 to go in the first half and Pitt owned a 43-23 margin at the half. Trailing by as many as 24 in the second period, the Orange went on an 18-4 run to cut the lead to 10, 65-55, with 1:05 left on the clock, but a layup by Pittsburgh’s Maddy Brown with 28 seconds to go provided the winning margin. Sophomore center Vaida Sipaviciute tallied a game-high 22 points, including 18 after halftime. Redshirt freshman Sara Antolick earned her first start of the year and chipped in 10 points to go along with a team-best nine rebounds. The loss marked the second straight season the Orange lost its conference opener to the Panthers. Pitt posted a 60-41 triumph versus SU on Jan. 2, 2005 in its league starter last year.
SMITH MAKES COLLEGIATE DEBUT
Freshman Brittany Smith saw her first action in an Orange uniform in SU’s BIG EAST opener at Pittsburgh on Dec. 8. Smith played 13 minutes, grabbed four rebounds and scored four points (all on free throws). The Milwaukee, Wisc. native missed both of SU’s exhibition games and the first five games of the regular season. Smith was available to play at Canisius on Dec. 4, but did not get into the game. She also registereed the first blocked shot of her career against the Panthers and was 0-for-1 from the field.
ANTOLICK EARNS START VERSUS PANTHERS
Redshirt freshman
Sara Antolick received her first start of the 2005-06 campaign at Pittsburgh on Dec. 8. Against the Panthers, she was one of two players in double figures with 10 points. She also snatched a team-best nine rebounds. Antolick saw her first action of the season at Canisius on Dec. 4 after suffering a knee injury in SU’s final exhibition game on Nov. 11 that caused her to miss the first five regular-season games. After starting the first six games of her career last season, Antolick missed the remainder of the 2004-05 campaign with a foot injury. Following last year, she received a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA.
SCOUTING THE MINUTEWOMEN
The Minutewomen are in the midst of a three-game losing streak and haven’t posted a victory since a 71-53 decision versus Siena on Nov. 29. They enter Saturday’s pairing with a 2-6 overall record. Massachusetts is averaging just 52.6 points per game and has been outscored by an average of 11.2 points per outing. The Minutewomen have connected on 36 percent of their field goal tries (155-431) and are averaging 33.9 boards per outing. Pam Rosanio leads the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game and she is the clubs top free-throw shooter among players with more than two attempts (.718, 28-39). Kate Mills is also scoring in double figures at 10.6 points per contest. Tamara Tatham is the team’s top rebounder at 8.6 boards per game. Massachusetts is 0-4 on the road so far this season.
THE SYRACUSE-MASSACHUSETTS SERIES
SU is 5-2 all-time against the Minutewomen. Massachusetts posted a 70-66 overtime win in the first series meeting held on Jan. 18, 1980 at the Dome. The encounter marked SU’s first Dome outing. The Orange won the next five meetings until losing, 52-51, at the Cage last year. The defeat ended SU’s five-game season-opening winning streak.
Syracuse vs. Massachusetts Facts & Figures
All-Time Series: SU leads, 5-2
First Meeting: Jan. 31, 1980 (Massachusetts 70, Syracuse 66 OT)
Last Meeting: Dec. 4, 2004 (Massachusetts 52, Syracuse 51)
Last 10 Meetings: See all-time series record
Current Streak: UMass, 1
Coach Cieplicki’s Record vs. Massachusetts: 2-2
In addition to live game audio, live video of the contest will be available as part of SU's All-Access package. Subscriptions for All-Access cost $9.95 per month or $79.95 for the year.
