Nicole Michael Earns BIG EAST Accolade, SU Travels to Colgate
11/27/2006 4:51:48 PM | Women's Basketball
Listen!!! Game Notes
The Syracuse University women’s basketball team (1-4) begins its longest road trip of the season at Colgate (1-4) on Wed., Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. The game can be heard live on suathletics.com with Brian Higgins calling the action. It can also be heard live on WJPZ 89.1 FM. Live video and live stats are available here. SU is riding a three-game losing streak, losing at Lehigh and Saint Peter’s and to Niagara at home on Nov. 26. The Raiders are also riding a three-game losing steak, losing at fellow BIG EAST Conference member Connecticut, Cleveland State and St. Bonaventure on Nov. 26. Colgate is 1-0 inside Cotterell Court. The Orange play 11 of its first 15 games away fromt he friendly confines of the Carrier Dome. SU is 0-3 in road contests. The Orange doesn’t return home until Dec. 9.
BIG EAST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Syracuse’s Nicole Michael has been tabbed the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week after posting a double-double in two games played. The freshman forward averaged a double-double last week, pouring in 22.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. In a 58-52 loss at Saint Peter’s on Nov. 22, Michael recorded 19 points, six rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals. She followed up that performance with 26 points and 16 rebounds at home versus Niagara, a 59-54 loss on Nov. 26. By halftime, she already had recorded a double-double (19 points, 10 boards). Michael scored SU’s first 12 points during the game’s first 6:29. It was the first double-double of her young career. She also recorded two blocks and a steal. Michael has led the Orange in scoring in three consecutive games and is averaging a team-best 17.6 points and 8.4 rebounds in her first season. She is the first freshman to lead the Orange in scoring in three consecutive game since Julie McBride accomplished the feat during the 2000-01 season. McBride led SU in scoring in four consecutive games. In her last four games, Michael is scoring 20.8 points and hauling in 9.5 rebounds.
WARMING UP
The Orange has seen increased production from junior center Vaida Sipaviciute during the last two games, especially in the rebounding department. Sipaviciute has recorded 19 rebounds and 21 points during SU’s last two contests. The junior registered only 13 rebounds in the first three games of the season. Sipaviciute has already tallied one double-double on the year, ninth of her career. She was one rebound shy of back-to-back double-doubles. Sipaviciute is first on the team in blocks per game (1.6) and field goal percentage, making 49.1 percent (26-53) of her attempts. She is tied for second in scoring (11.0) and is third in rebounding (6.4).
STEADY AS WE GO
Junior forward Fantasia Goodwin has probably been Syracuse’s most consistent performer. She has scored in double figures in four of Syracuse‘s first five games and is second on the team in scoring (11.0) and rebounding (8.2). Goodwin is also second on the squad in steals per game (1.6) and field-goal percentage, making 26 of her 53 attempts (.412). She is first in free-throw percentage, making 87.5 percent (7-8) of her attempts. Goodwin set career highs for field goals made (5), assists (3) and minutes played (38) against Niagara on Nov. 26.
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
Niagara (1-4) comes into tonight’s game riding a three-game losing streak. The Raiders lost at fellow BIG EAST Conference member Connecticut, 81-37 on Nov. 16, at Cleveland State, 70-65 on Nov. 21 and at St. Bonaventure, 70-49 on Nov. 25. Colgate freshman TaHara Williams led all scorers with a career-high 16 points against the Bonnies. Junior Melanie Cargle added 10 points on 4-of-8 (.500) shooting. The Raiders shot 33.3 percent (19-57) from the floor from the contest and committed 24 turnovers. Colgate junior Gretchen Polinski finished with seven points and junior Caitlin Gillard had five points and team-high six rebounds. She also finished with a career-high four assists. Gillard leads the Raiders in points (12.4), rebounds (9.0), blocks per game (3.0) and field-goal percentage, making 50.0 percent (20-50) of her attempts. Cargle is also averaing 12.4 points per game and has recorded a team-best 2.2 steals per game. Shevorne Martin has dished out a team-best 2.2 assists per game.
THE SYRACUSE-COLGATE SERIES
This is the 11th meeting between Syracuse and Colgate. SU holds a 10-0 advantage in the all-time series and is 3-0 all-time in Hamilton. The Orange defeated the Raiders, 92-56 last season in Manely Field House.
last of which, Syracuse beat Colgate, 92-56, at Manley Field House. They will play at Colgate this season
