Sipaviciute Posts 10th Career Double-Double Against West Virginia

Wednesday, January 31

Morgantown, W. Va.

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

West Virginia

Sipaviciute's double-double was her second of the season and the 10th of her career.

Sipaviciute Posts 10th Career Double-Double Against West Virginia

1/31/2007 9:15:46 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Morgantown, W.Va. – Junior Vaida Sipaviciute scored 11 points and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds but the West Virginia Mountaineers proved to be strong for the Orange, defeating Syracuse, 67-49. Sipaviciute’s double-double was her second of the season and the 10th of her career.

Junior Fantasia Goodwin led the Orange with 15 points and added seven rebounds. Freshman Nicole Michael just missed posting her fourth-consecutive double-double, recording nine points and nine rebounds. Senior Ashley McMillen added nine points for SU, connecting on three-of-five 3-point baskets.

Each team began with the game with a run as both schools found it hard to get into a rhythm. West Virginia opened the game by scoring the first eight points only to see Syracuse respond with an 8-0 stretch of its own. Leading 19-15, the Mountaineers used a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the half, 26-15, with 3:17 remaining in the opening period. Syracuse cut the West Virginia lead to seven points before the Mountaineers stretched its advantage back to double-digits at 32-22 heading into intermission. Sipaviciute led the Orange (8-14, 2-7 BIG EAST) with seven points and seven rebounds in the opening period.

West Virginia (15-7, 6-3 BIG EAST) opened the second half with a 3-point basket and the Orange would not pull within 10 points following the early bucket. After trailing by as many as 17 points in the second half, Syracuse closed the gap to 11 points, 55-44, with 6:02 remaining and it looked as if the Orange would make one of its typical second-half runs. However, West Virginia was able to continue its strong play and ended the game on a 13-5 stretch to seal the victory.

The Orange shot 29.3 percent (17-58) from the field during the game, while West Virginia connected on 41.5 percent (27-65) of its shots. Syracuse held a 44-40 advantage on the glass and pulled down a season-best 18 offensive rebounds.

Syracuse returns home and will square off against Seton Hall on Saturday. The game is set to tip off at noon in the Carrier Dome.