Orange Women's Hoops Goes for Season Sweep of Villanova
2/8/2005 3:23:32 PM | Women's Basketball
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VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Orange will try and stop its two-game losing streak when it travels to Villanova on Wednesday, Feb. 9. It is the second meeting between the two teams this season with SU taking the first game, 45-42, at Manley Field House on Jan. 29. Tip-off at The Pavilion is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Syracuse has taken two regular-season games from Villanova only once in the history of the series. SU won both games during the 1989-90 campaign, 56-46 at The Pavilion and 67-64 in overtime at Manley Field House. The Orange has already wrapped up home-and-home play with two opponents, splitting with Pittsburgh and losing twice to Notre Dame.
SU started its two-game set with Rutgers last time out, losing on the road, 69-61. SU shot 50-percent for the game, including 66.7 percent in the second half, but couldn’t overcome 26 turnovers that led to 35 points by the Scarlet Knights. Three Orange players scored in double figures, including two double-doubles. Freshman Jessica Richter netted a team-best 17 points and a career-high 10 boards for her first double-double. Senior Chineze Nwagbo had 11 points and 10 rebounds despite battling foul trouble. It was the first time this season that two Orange players had double-doubles in the same game. Nwagbo and Richter sit 1-2 on the Syracuse season scoring chart at 11.0 and 9.9 points per game, respectively. Freshman center Vaida Sipaviciute notched her fourth consecutive double-digit scoring effort with 13 points. She is the Orange’s second-leading scorer in BIG EAST play with 11.5 points per game. Sipaviciute leads the conference with 54 blocked shots, the ninth-highest season total in school history. Rookie Mary Joe Riley made her first career start and finished with four points, two rebounds and two assists. Riley became the fifth (of five) Syracuse freshman to start a game this season. After playing in only eight of SU’s first 17 games, Riley is averaging 6.5 points in 24.8 minutes per contest. Sophomore Lauren Kohn scored eight second-half points, going 3-for-3 from the floor, including two three-pointers. Kohn is third on the team in scoring at 8.9 points per contest and is SU’s all-time three-point percentage leader at 36.8 percent. Senior guard Rochelle Coleman had eight points and four assists before fouling out. Coleman is seventh in the BIG EAST in overall assists (3.76) and third in the conference during league games (5.90).
Villanova has had a topsy-turvy last two weeks. After winning home games with Georgetown and West Virginia, the Wildcats lost at Syracuse, 45-42. The squad rebounded for a big 70-49 win at Pittsburgh for Harry Perretta’s 500th career victory. Last time out, the Wildcats lost their first BIG EAST home game of the season, 53-50 to Seton Hall. Liad Suez leads the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game. Syracuse held her to four points in 33 minutes on 2-of-11 shooting in the first meeting at Manley Field House. Jackie Adamshick is the only other Wildcat in double figures at 12.8 points per game. Adamshick is also the team’s leading rebounder with 6.2 boards per contest. Adamshick led the team in the first meeting with 12 points. Six Wildcats have made at least 10 three-pointers this season, including 36 by Suez and 29 by Adamshick. The team shot just 1-for-14 from three in the first game at Syracuse. Jenna Viani, who averaged 5.8 points while starting the first 17 games, is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Villanova leads the nation in fewest turnovers, committing only 9.6 miscues per game. The Wildcats had only eight in the first game against the Orange.
Villanova leads the all-time series with the Orange, 33-12, including a 28-10 advantage in BIGEAST regular-season play. Syracuse stopped a three-game losing streak to the Wildcats with a 45-42 win at Manley Field House on Jan. 29. Villanova has won the last eight games versus Syracuse at The Pavilion.
Following the game at Villanova, the Orange returns home to face Boston College at Manley Field House on Saturday, Feb. 12. Tip-off is at 2 p.m.
TURNOVERS COSTING ORANGE IN RECENT LOSSES
NWAGBO CRACKS DOUBLE-DOUBLE TOP TEN
