Sipaviciute Eyes 1,000 at Georgetown

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The Syracuse University women’s basketball team (8-17, 2-10 BIG EAST) travels to our nation’s capital for a matchup against the Georgetown University Hoyas (12-13, 2-10 BIG EAST) on Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. in McDonough Arena. The game can be heard live for FREE on suathletics.com with Brian Higgins calling the action. Fans in the Syracuse can also listen to the contest live on WJPZ 89.1 FM. Live video and stats are also available on guhoyas.com. Junior Vaida Sipaviciute is just nine points short of becoming the 16th player in school history to record 1,000 career points.

The Orange has lost its last eight games, including its last five home contests, and is coming off a 68-40 loss to No. 23/23 Rutgers on Valentine’s Day. Georgetown has lost eight of its last nine games, including a 67-52 loss to Marquette on Feb. 10. The Hoyas are just 5-7 at home.

GETTING CLOSER

Junior Vaida Sipaviciute moved closer to recording her 1,000th career point, leading Syracuse with 17 points against No. 23/23 Rutgers on Feb. 14. Sipaviciute raised her career total to 991 career points, nine short of becoming the 16th Orange student-athlete to record 1,000 career points. Sipaviciute also posted five rebounds and one block in 32 minutes against the Scarlet Knights. With her block, she moved into sole possession of third place in school history with 172 career blocks, breaking a tie with Martha Mogish. Mogish posted 171 career blocks from 1978 to 1981. She is first on the team in blocks (1.9), field-goal percentage, making 45.9 percent (135-294) of her attempts and free-throw percentage, making 66 of her 93 her attempts (.710) her chances. She is second in points (13.6) and third in rebounding (5.7). Sipaviciute has led the Orange in blocks 20 times, scoring seven times, rebounding four times, steals twice and assists once. She has scored in double-figures in 22 of SU’s 25 games, including eight consecutive. The junior is fifth in the BIG EAST (all games) and 47th in the nation in blocks. Sipaviciute is also19th in the BIG EAST (all games) in scoring. In BIG EAST games only, she is 20th in rebounding (6.4).

BEST SYRACUSE FRESHMAN EVER???

Freshman Nicole Michael added 13 points, three rebounds, and one steal for the Orange versus No. 23/23 Rutgers on Feb. 14. Michael raised her season total to 419 points, and is the 14th player in school history to record 400 points in a single-season. She is second for points by a freshman in a single season. Martha Mogish recorded 469 points during the 1977-78 season. Michael currently leads the Orange in points (16.8) and rebounds (8.1). She is second in and free-throw percentage, making 131 of her 185 attempts (.708) and field-goal percentage, making 41.8 percent (136-325) and third in assists (1.5) and steals (1.4). She has led Syracuse in scoring 14 times, rebounding 13 times, steals 11 times, blocks six times and assists once. Michael is seventh overall and first for freshman in the BIG EAST (all games) in points, an average which is also 72nd in the country. She is also eighth overall and second for freshman in rebounding in the conference (all games), an average which is also good for 88th in the nation. She is fifth overall and first for freshman in defensive rebounds (all games) at 5.84. In BIG EAST games only, Michael is 14th in free throw percentage making 74 of her 94 attempts (.787).

SCOUTING THE HOYAS

The Georgetown Hoyas (12-13, 2-10 BIG EAST) lost a 67-52 decision at home to No. 22/23 Marquette on Feb. 10. Junior forward Kieraah Marlow scored 17 points, including 13 in the second half, and grabbed nine rebounds. Junior center Aminata Diop recorded 14 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting. With 8:57 to play in the first half, Georgetown was on top 17-16, but the Hoyas did not score the remainder of the first half and Marquette went on a 15-0 run to take a 31-17 lead to the locker room. Trailing 51-31, the Hoyas went on an 11-2 run to cut the lead to 53-42 at the 6:17 mark, but could draw no closer. Georgetown was able to cut into the lead by scoring 17 points off Marquette turnovers. GU shot 32.8 percent (20-of-61) from the field and was 4-of-22 (.181) from 3-point range. The Hoyas made 8-of-15 attempts from the foul line.

Kieraah Marlow leads the way for the Hoyas with a team-high 16.2 points and 6.4 rebounds. Katrina Wheeler has added 8.4 points and a team-best 8.0 rebounds. Kristin Heidloff has contributed 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and a team-best 2.04 steals. Aminata Diop is averaging 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds and Kate Carlin has donated 5.9 points and 1.7 rebounds.

Terri Williams-Flournoy, (34-46 (.425)) is in his third season as head coach of the Hoyas women’s basketball team. The Hoyas had won their first five games when shooting at least 50 percent from the floor, but GU has lost its last two games when making half of their field goals. Senior Kate Carlin played in her 108th career game against MU and is on place to finish second all-time on GU’s career games played list. Diop has posted double-figures seven times this season. Marlow hit the double-figure mark for the ninth straight game with 17 points vs. Marquette. Marlow has led the team in scoring 14 times this season. The Hoyas lost at Seton Hall 71-67 on Feb. 6. Freshman guard Shanice Fuller scored a career-high 21 points and was one of four GU players to tally double-digit scoring totals.

THE SYRACUSE-GEORGETOWN SERIES

In 45 previous meetings, Syracuse and Georgetown are only separated by one game, GU 23 and SU 22. The Hoyas have won one more regular season meeting (20-19) since the formation of the BIG EAST women’s basketball league in 1982-83. The Hoyas have held the edge in the series recently, winning eight of the last 10 matchups. The Orange last defeated the Hoyas, 65-58, in the first round of the 2005 BIG EAST Championship. In 2004, Georgetown’s Rebekkah Brunson put on the most impressive display in the series history with 35 points and 22 rebounds in an 82-59 win. Jaime James scored a Syracuse series-record 33 points in an 89-61 Orange victory on Jan. 19, 2002.

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