Orange Travels to Binghamton for Final Non-Conference Game

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Game Notes

The Syracuse University women’s basketball team (6-7, 1-0 BIG EAST) concludes the non-conference portion of its schedule at Binghamton (3-8, 0-0 American East) on Sat., Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. The game can be heard live on suathletics.com FREE with Brian Higgins calling the action. The game can also be heard live on WJPZ 89.1 FM. Live stats and streaming are available on bubearcats.com.

The Orange is coming off consecutive losses against TCU, 74-53, in the second game of the San Juan Shootout on Dec. 20 and versus Canisius, 56-43, in SU’s nonconference home finale on Dec. 22. The Bearcats are coming off a 65-64 loss at Bucknell on Dec. 19. Syracuse, who has played nine of its 13 games away from the Carrier Dome are 5-4 in those contests.

CENTER OF IT ALL

Junior center Vaida Sipaviciute continues to play very well for the Orange. She extended her double-digit scoring streak to 10 games with a game-high 16 points versus Canisius on Dec. 22. She also blocked three shots to move into a tie for fourth on SU’s career blocks list (152) with Vickie Smith. The junior added a season-best three steals in her 30 minutes of action against the Golden Griffins. Sipaviciute is first on the team in blocks per game at 2.2 and field-goal percentage, making 47.6 percent (69-145) of her attempts. She is tied for second in scoring at 13.2 and third in rebounding at 4.9. She has led the Orange in blocks 11 times, scoring four times and steals twice. Sipaviciute has scored in double-figures in 10 consecutive games and 11 of Syracuse’s 13 games this season. The 10 straight double-figure scoring games rank tied for fifth on the BIG EAST charts. Sipaviciute is second in the BIG EAST and 43rd in the country in blocked shots. She is also tied for 24th in BIG EAST in scoring.

STONG PERFORMANCE

Freshman Nicole Michael pulled down a game-best nine rebounds against Canisius on Dec. 22. She also chipped in eight points before fouling out with 2:31 left in the game. It was just the fourth time in 13 outings this season that she was held to less than 10 points. Michael leads SU in points with 15.8 and rebounds with 8.9. Michael has registered at least 16 points and five rebounds in nine of Syracuse’s 13 games and at least nine rebounds in six of SU’s 13 games. She has led the Orange in scoring and rebounding seven times, steals five times, blocks four times and assists three times. Michael is 11th overall and second for freshman in the BIG EAST in scoring and sixth overall and first for freshman in rebounding. She is also fourth overall and first for freshman in defensive rebounds at 6.38 per game. Michael has already earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week accolades twice on Nov. 27 and Dec. 4 and was named the Most Valuable Player of the Brown Classic, hosted by Brown University on Dec. 2-3.

GOOD TIMES

Junior Fantasia Goodwin played 35 minutes against Canisius on Dec. 22. The junior registered five rebounds, three points and two steals for the Orange. Goodwin is first on the team in minutes (34.1) and 3-point field-goal percentage, making 46.0 percent (23-50) of her attempts. She is also second in field-goal percentage, making 45.5 percent (65-143) of her attempts, second in rebounding at 8.2 and tied for second in points (13.2) and steals (1.2). She has reached the double-figure plateau in 10 of Syracuse’s 13 games this season. Goodwin is 11th in the BIG EAST and 41st in the country in 3-point field-goal percentage. She is also seventh in the BIG EAST in minutes played, 10th in defensive rebounds (5.77), 11th in 3-pointers made, 10th in rebounding and tied for 22nd in scoring. Goodwin has already earned accolades this season by being named to Brown Classic All-Tournament and San Juan Shootout All-Tournament teams.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS

The Binghamton Bearcats (3-8, 0-0 America East) are coming off a 65-64 loss at Bucknell on Dec. 19. Bucknell’s Amanda Brown found senior guard Lindsay Hollobaugh under the basket for the game-winning layup with 4.6 seconds remaining in overtime to give Bucknell a 65-64 victory against Binghamton.

Junior forward Juta Jahilo tied her career-high with 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting and added six rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Laine Kurpniece recorded her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds while Erica Carter finished with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Sophomore forward Laura Franceski added seven points, eight rebounds and tied her season-high with five blocks and junior forward Brianna Thompson contributed eight points and seven rebounds. Binghamton played the entire game with only seven players seeing action.

Laura Sario, who has only played in seven games this season, leads the Binghamton in scoring at 10.7. Rebecka Lindgren is averaging 9.5 points per game and a team-best 1.5 steals per game and a team-high 2.4 assists for the Bearcats. Juta Jahilo leads Binghamton in rebounding at 5.4.

The Orange is the second BIG EAST foe to travel to Binghamton this season. Earlier this season, Villanova defeated Binghamton, 59-40.

THE SYRACUSE-BINGHAMTON SERIES

This is the ninth meeting between Syracuse and Binghamton. The Orange holds a 7-1 advantage in the all-time series. SU and the Bearcats met in Syracuse’s first season, 1971, and played every season until the 1974-75 season. The Orange and Binghamton did not meet again until the 2002-03 season and have met each season since. The Bearcats’ only victory came last season when Binghamton took home a 74-52 victory on Dec. 17, 2005, at the Carrier Dome.

Syracuse University Athletics

Orange Travels to Binghamton for Final Non-Conference Game

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