Orange Seeks Second BIG EAST Win Against Wildcats
1/8/2007 4:54:02 PM | Women's Basketball
The Syracuse University women’s basketball team (7-9, 1-2 BIG EAST) will attempt to earn its second conference triumph this season, as well as stop a four-game home losing streak, when it entertains the Villanova Wildcats (7-8, 1-1 BIG EAST) on Tues., Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Carrier Dome. Live video of the game is available as part of the Orange All-Access subscription. 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 are also available on suathletics.com.
The Orange is coming off back-to-back setbacks at No. 18/20 Marquette, 79-55, on Jan. 3 and versus Providence, 71-63, on Jan. 6. The Wildcats are coming off an impressive victory against West Virginia, 70-64, in double overtime on Jan. 3. Syracuse, who has played only five of its 16 games at home are 1-4 in those contests and have lost its last four.
MICHAEL EARNS BIG EAST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK HONORS FOR THIRD TIME
Freshman sensation Nicole Michael earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week accolades for the third time in her rookie season after averaging 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals in Syracuse’s two games last week. Michael’s third honor matches the SU record. Michael led the Orange with 21 points and seven rebounds against No. 18/20 Marquette on Wednesday. Her 21 point-effort was the sixth time she has passed the 20-point plateau this season. Against Providence, Michael posted a team-best 17 points, eight rebounds and a career-best five steals. Her five steals are the most by any SU player this season. Michael is averaging a team-leading 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for the Orange in 2006-07. Her 16.5 points rank ninth in the BIG EAST while her 8.5 rebounds is the sixth-best mark in the conference. Both numbers rank first among freshman. Michael first earned the conference’s honor on Nov. 27 after averaging 22.5 points and 11 rebounds per game against St. Peter’s and Niagara. She set the SU freshman scoring mark while competing in the NCAA against Niagara, scoring 26 points and adding 16 rebounds. Michael duplicated the honor the next week, winning the award after averaging 17.3 points, nine rebounds and four assists in three victories against Colgate, Rhode Island and UC Davis. She helped lead the Orange to the 15th annual Brown Classic Championship and was named the tournament’s MVP.
Michael is the only player to earn BIG EAST Freshman of the Week accolades on three occasions this season. Rutgers’ Epiphanny Prince has earned the honor twice. Two other SU student-athletes have been honored three times during their rookie seasons in the past. Felisha Legette was the first to achieve the feat in 1984-85 and Angel Lewis duplicated the accomplishment in 1991-92.
DOUBLE-DIGITS
After not leading Syracuse in rebounding for the season’s first 13 games junior center Vaida Sipaviciute has led the Orange in rebounding the last three. She registered a team-best eight versus Providence on Jan. 6, seven at No. 18/20 Marquette on Jan. 3 and six at Binghamton on Dec. 30. Sipaviciute also had 15 points, a team-best two blocks and one assist against the Friars. Sipaviciute is first on the team in blocks per game at 1.8 and field-goal percentage, making 47.9 percent (90-188) of her attempts. She is second on the squad in points per game (13.8) and third in rebounds per game (5.3). She has led the Orange in blocks 12 times, scoring four times and rebounding three times and steals twice. Sipaviciute has scored in double-figures in 13 consecutive games and 14 of Syracuse’s 16 games this season. The 13 straight double-figures scoring games rank fourth on the BIG EAST charts. Sipaviciute is third in the BIG EAST (all games) and 58th in the country in blocked shots. She is also 19th in BIG EAST in scoring. She is 14th in BIG EAST games only in field-goal percentage (.512) and offensive rebounds (3.00).
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
The Vilanova Wildcats (7-8, 1-1 BIG EAST) posted a 70-64 double-overtime win at home against West Virginia on Jan. 6. Junior forward Stacie Whitman scored all 12 of her points in the second overtime. Witman also added 11 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double. Sophomore forward Lisa Karcic added 18 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and five assists. VU scored six consecutve points in the last 25 seconds of regulation to tie it. The five VU starters combined to play an average of 42.6 minutes and each tallied double-digit scoring totals. Senior forward Jackie Adamshick had 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the Wildcats shot 38.1 percent from the field (24-of-63). VU trailed by just five at the half 26-21 despite recording just seven field goals (7-of-29 for 24.1 percent) in the frame. It was the first double-overtime game for VU since Jan. 24, 1992. VU outrebounded WVU 50-36 and has now won 13 straight regular season games against the Mountaineers
Jackie Adamshick leads the way for the Wildcats with 15.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Lisa Karcic has added 13.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and a team-best 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. Maria Getty has contributed 8.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Siobhan O’Connor is averaging 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per outing. Tia Grant has donated 4.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game for the Wildcats
Harry Perretta (535-300) is in his 29th season as head coach of the Wildcats women’s basketball team. Karcic has four career double-doubles, all coming this season. The sophomore has reached double figures in scoring 12 times in 15 outings this season. Senior Jackie Adamshick has scored double figures in 12 of 14 games.
THE SYRACUSE-VILLANOVA SERIES
Villanova and St. John’s are the two most familiar opponents for the Orange. SU faced each club 47 times coming into this season. The Wildcats own the most victories against the Orange of any foe and hold a 35-12 advantage in the all-time series. Villanova has won seven of the last 10 meetings, including last year’s 72-55 victory at The Pavilion. The Orange won the last meeting in Syracuse, a 45-42 triumph on Jan. 29, 2005 to halt the Wildcats’ four-game series winning streak. The Orange’s 45 points represented its fewest markers in a victory since 1975. Sipaviciute notched 21 points to lead to Syracuse. Beth Record owns the Orange record for points scored versus Villanova. She tallied 28 in a 66-42 win to the Wild Cats on Jan. 19, 2000. Villanova’s Shelly Pennefather owns the series record for points with 30 in a 58-56 victory on Jan. 28, 1987. Villanova has won three of the five postseason clashes between the two squads. This is the first meeting between the two schools at the Carrier Dome.
Gerry McNamara Interview
Tuesday, March 31
John Scott Jr. Press Conference | Spring Ball Day 5
Tuesday, March 31
Bryan Blair | Gerry McNamara Welcome Event
Monday, March 30
John Wildhack | Gerry McNamara Welcome Event
Monday, March 30
