Syracuse Begins Two-Game Road Swing at Lehigh
11/18/2006 9:47:01 AM | Women's Basketball
Listen Here!!! Game Notes Hillsman Lands SU’s Best Recruiting Class Ever
The Syracuse University women’s basketball team begins a two-game road swing at Lehigh on Sun., Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. The game can be heard live on suathletics.com and WJPZ 89.1 FM. The Orange is coming off a 72-64 victory against Cornell in its home opener on Nov. 15. The victory, the first for Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman, snapped an 11-game home losing streak and a 10-game Carrier Dome losing streak. It was SU’s first win at home since a 81-76 win against Massachusetts in the Dome on Dec. 10, 2005. Syracuse is 0-1 on the road this season, losing at Penn State in the season opener on Nov. 12.
CINTIA SHINES
Sophomore guard Cintia Johnson shined in Syracuse’s home opener against Cornell on Nov. 15. The Syracuse native recorded a career-high five offensive rebounds and four steals. She also matched career-bests in total rebounds with nine and minutes with 39. Johnson also had nine points and four assists. In SU’s season opener at Penn State on Nov. 12 she recorded 10 points, six rebound, four assists and two steals. Johnson, SU’s shortest player at 5-foot-4-inches, is averaging a team-best 7.5 rebounds in the Orange’s first two games. She is also averaging 9.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 steals and a team-high 38 minutes in the young season.
PLEASE STAND UP
Junior guard Mary Joe Riley’s name was called as one of the five starters in Syracuse’s home opener against Cornell on Nov. 15. It was Riley’s ninth start of her career and first since Nov. 27, 2005. The junior responded, playing a career-high 39 minutes, while matching career-bests in points (11), free throws (5), free-throw attempts (8) and total rebounds (7). Riley also had three assists versus the Big Red. She came off the bench at Penn State and scored 10 points. Riley’s 21 points in SU’s two games already surpasses her total of 18 points she scored last season.
NEWCOMERS
Junior forward Fantasia Goodwin and freshman forward Nicole Michael have made immediate impacts on the Orange program. Goodwin has made a team-best 52.9 percent (9-17) of her shots, while averaging 12.0 points in Syracuse’ s first two outings. She is also averaging 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals. Michael had a breakout game against Cornell on Nov. 15. The freshman scored 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out four assists in the victory. She is averaging 11.0 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Orange.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN HAWKS
Lehigh (1-1) is coming off a 54-53 loss to Penn in its home opener on Nov. 16. Adrienne Blount led the Mountain Hawks in scoring as she went 10-for-11 at the line and netted 18 points. Additionally, she pulled down a game-high seven rebounds. Sara Ellis chipped in with 11 points and had a team-high four assists. Blount leads the Mountain Hawks in scoring (14.0) and rebounding (8.0). Blount is the only returning Mountain Hawk to earn an All-Patriot League honor last year. Blount was selected to the Second-Team All-League and has been named to this season’s Preseason All-League Team. Melissa Rich and Blount both received honorable mention from the Patriot League on Monday in the league’s first week of weekly awards. The Mountain Hawks hold an all-time record of 212-160 when playing on their home court. Under head coach Sue Troyan, Lehigh maintains a record of 89-61 while at home. Sue Troyan is in her 12th season at the helm, carrying a career record of 153-161.
THE SYRACUSE-LEHIGH SERIES
This is the first meeting between Syracuse and Lehigh.
LAST TIME OUT
Syracuse 72, Cornell 64 - Nov. 15, 2006 at Syracuse, New York (Carrier Dome)
The Orange won a matinee game in its home opener at the Carrier Dome, defeating the Cornell Big Red 72-64. The win marked the first for the 2006-07 Orange and the first collegiate victory for head coach Quentin Hillsman. Syracuse improves to 1-1 on the season.
Junior center Vaida Sipaviciute led the Orange with 18 points and added seven rebounds. Sophomore point guard Cintia Johnson scored nine points and matched a career-high with nine rebounds, including a personal-best five offensive rebounds. Johnson also led the Orange with four assists and a career-best four steals. Freshman Nicole Michael and junior transfer Fantasia Goodwin each set career-highs in points, recording 17 and 14 points, respectively. Junior guard Mary Joe Riley also matched a personal-high with 11 points. Michael and Riley both added seven rebounds.
The Big Red scored the opening four points of the contest only to see the Orange respond with a 14-2 run to take an early eight-point lead. Syracuse connected on five-of-six field goals during the run, including two 3-point baskets, while its defense held the Big Red to just one field goal in eight attempts.
The Orange stretched its lead to as many as 12 points in the first half, taking a 21-9 advantage following a Sipaviciute basket. The Big Red scored nine-consecutive points and cut the SU lead to three points but Cossondra Covington hit her first career field goal on a 3-point basket to end the Cornell run. The Orange led 34-25 heading into the half. Sipaviciute led all scorers with 12 points at the intermission, connecting on six-of-nine field goals. Goodwin chipped in with 10 first-half points.
The Orange continued its strong play in the second half. Syracuse scored the first five points of the half to gain a 14-point advantage. Cornell responded with a 10-2 run to cut Syracuse’s lead to six points at 41-35. Michael connected on two-consecutive field goals as the Orange regained its double-digit lead at 45-35.
The Big Red cut SU’s lead to five-points only to see the Orange respond with a 6-0 run. Sipaviciute connected on two free throws and Johnson quickly forced a turnover and turned it into two fastbreak points. Riley hit a jumper as the Orange reclaimed a double-digit lead at 53-42. After Cornell scored on two free throws, the Orange scored six-consecutive points, including fast-break layups from Johnson and Goodwin, as the Orange gained its largest lead of the afternoon of 15 points.
Cornell cut the SU lead to five points but the Orange hit its free throws last to hold on for the eight-point victory. Syracuse connected on 44.6 percent of its field goals (25-56) while holding the Big Red to 36.1 percent shooting (22-61).
Sophomore Jeomi Maduka was the only Cornell player in double-figures, leading the team with 27 points and 15 rebounds before fouling out.
TALE OF TWO GAMES
The Orange outrebounded Cornell, 44-37 in its 72-64 victory on Nov. 15. On the other hand, Syracuse was outrebounded, 51-32 in its loss at Penn State. That is a 26-rebound swing.
GOOD SHOOTING, GOOD DEFENSE
SU outshot Cornell, 44.6 percent (25-56) to 36.1 percent (22-61) in its 72-64 win against the Big Red.
ORANGE STARTING FIVE
Head coach Quentin Hillsman has already used two different starting lineups in Syracuse’s two games this season. Sophomore Mary Joe Riley replaced sophomore Keri Laimbeer after SU’s season-opening loss at Penn State.
PUT ME IN COACH
The Orange have four players averaging at least 30.5 minutes. Sophomore guard Cintia Johnson, junior guard Mary Joe Riley, junior forward Fantasia Goodwin and junior forward Vaida Sipaviciute have all been on the floor for at least 75 percent of the action. Those four players played 39, 39, 33, and 35 minutes respectively against Cornell on Nov. 15.
SU AT HALFTIME
Syracuse is 37-8 (.822) since 2001-02 when leading at halftime. The Orange is 1-0 in 2006-07 when leading at halftime. SU finished the 2005-06 season 4-3 when ahead at the intermission. Syracuse was 8-2 in 2004-05 and was 3-0 in 2003-04 when leading at the half. The Orange was 8-2 in 2002-03 when leading at the intermission, winning seven of its last eight games with a halftime advantage. SU was 13-1 in 2001-02 when leading at halftime.
INSIDE THE FG NUMBERS
Since the start of the 2002-03 season, Syracuse is 33-15 (.688) when shooting better than its opponents and 5-59 (.119) when on the opposite end of the field goal percentage numbers. SU is 13-4 in the last four seasons when hitting at least half its shots.
SCRAPING THE SKY
The 2006-07 edition of the Syracuse’s women’s basketball team will boast eight players six-feet tall or taller. SU also had eight players six-feet tall or taller in 2005-06 and 1984-85. Junor Vaida Sipaviciute is SU’s tallest player at 6-4.
Gobuty Signs and Accepts Offer to Play Women’s Basketball at SU
Israeli National Team member Marisa Gobuty (Sarasota, Fla./IMG Academy) has signed and accepted an offer to play women’s basketball at Syracuse University, head coach Quentin Hillsman announced.
Gobuty, a 5-foot-7-inch point guard is rated at the No. 95 prospect in the nation by Scout.com. She averaged 18 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals per game in leading her Israeli Team (Elizur Holon) to the State Championship in June 06. Toronto born Gobuty came to The Basketball Academy at IMG Academies in the summer of 2004 from her hometown of Herzeliya, Israel. She has played for Israel’s Junior National Team and the Finest Basketball Club Travel team out of California. FBA is known as the premier travel club in the country. Gobuty also attended the adidas All-American Camp in Atlanta where she averaged 14 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals per contest.
High school seniors Erica Morrow (Brooklyn, N.Y./Murray Bergtraum H.S.), Tasha Harris (Bronx, N.Y./St. Michael Academy) and Chanieka Williams (Seattle, Wash./Garfield H.S.) and junior college transfers Juanita Ward (Bolton, Miss./Odessa College), Chandrea Jones (Baltimore, Md./Odessa College) and Inga Muciniece (Ventspils, Latvia/Barton County C.C.) have all signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Syracuse University and play women’s basketball Hillsman announced.
Morrow, a 5-foot-8-inch guard is rated as the No. 29 prospect in the country by Blue Star Basketball and No. 40 by All-Star Girls Report. Morrow averaged 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists last season for Murray Bergtraum H.S. Morrow comes to Syracuse with many accolades including adidas All-America, New York Newsday All-City First Team (2005), New York Newsday All-Manhattan First Team (2005), Street & Smith All-America Honorable Mention (2004, 2005, 2006), Student Sports Freshman All-America (2004), New York Newsday All-Manhattan Second Team (2004), New York Daily News All-Manhattan Second Team (2004).
Harris, a 5-foot-8-inch guard is rated as the No. 45 recruit in the country by Blue Star Basketball and No. 86 by All-Star Girls Report. She averaged 18 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals while leading St. Michael Academy to the Manhattan Girls Catholic League Championship in 2005-06.
Williams, a 5-foot-9-inch guard is rated as the No. 90 prospect by All-Star Girls Report. A three-time honorable mention selection in the KingCo 4A League, Willams was also an adidas All-American. Williams averaged 14 points, six assists and four steals last season.
Ward, a 5-foot-11-inch forward is rated as the No. 1 junior college recruit by All-Star Girls Report. A transfer from Gulf Coast Community College, Ward has been named to the 2006-07 National Junior College Athletic Association Preseason All-America Second Team for Odessa. Ward was a third-team NJCAA All-American last season at Gulf Coast CC. She was also a McDonald’s All-American out of high school. Ward averaged 19.3 points while leading Gulf Coast CC to the Florida Community College Activities Association state championship game last season.
Jones, a teammate of Ward’s this season at Odessa is the No. 3 junior college prospect by All-Star Girls Report. The 5-foot-9-inch guard earned NJCAA All-America Third Team honors while leading Odessa to the NJCAA finals in 2005-06. Jones averaged 20.3 points, 7.9 rebound, 4.5 steals and 3.2 assists in 2005-06 while being named to the Western Junior College Athletic Conference All-Conference team. She has already been named to the 2006-07 NJCAA Preseason All-America First Team.
Muciniece, a 6-foot-5-inch freshman at Barton County C.C. will have three years of eligibly at Syracuse. She attended Ventspils Secondary School No. 5 in Latvia last season where she averaged 11 points, 14 rebounds and two assists per contest. She is rated as the No. 28 junior college recruit by All-Star Girls Report.
Hillsman Promoted to Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Syracuse University Director of Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross announced that Quentin Hillsman will be the Orange head coach. Known as an outstanding recruiter, Hillsman takes the reigns of the program permanently after serving as the interim head coach since June 6. Hillsman, who was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Orange during the 2005-06 season, signed a five-year contract. Hillsman is the fifth head coach since the program began in 1971-72.
