Orange Faces Bearcats with BIG EAST Tournament Hopes

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The Syracuse University women’s basketball team (9-19, 3-12 BIG EAST) plays for its BIG EAST Tournament life when the Orange travels to take on the Cincinnati Bearcats (14-13, 5-10 BIG EAST) on Mon., Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Fifth and Third Arena. The game can be heard live for FREE on suathletics.com with Brian Higgins calling the action. Fans in the Syracuse area can also listen to the contest live on WJPZ 89.1 FM. Live stats are also available on gobearcats.com.

SU is riding a two-game losing streak, but won its last road game, 65-58, at Georgetown on Feb. 17. The Bearcats have lost six of their last eight, including a 61-49 setback at West Virginia on Feb. 24.

BIG EAST TOURNAMENT SCENARIOS

Syracuse can still advance to the BIG EAST Tournament in Hartford, Conn. on March 3-6. The Orange needs three things to happen in order for its season to continue. SU must defeat Cincinnati on Monday night, Marquette needs to post at win against St. John’s and Villanova needs to defeat Providence. If that does happen, Syracuse would be the No. 12 seed.

MICHAEL NAMED BIG EAST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

Nicole Michael led the Orange with 17 points and broke the single-season freshman scoring record against No. 23/21 Louisville on Feb. 24. Michael’s 17 points raised her season total to 470 points, topping Martha Mogish’s mark of 469 points during the 1977-78 season. Mogish’s record was the second-longest standing record in Syracuse history, remaining the standard for 29 years. Michael set the record by connecting on two free throws with 1:12 remaining. She is 18 points shy of setting the SU single-season record. Michael also added 12 rebounds to record her third-consecutive double-double and her ninth of the season.

Michael earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week accolades for the fourth time in her rookie season after averaging 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in Syracuse’s two games last week versus No. 23/23 Rutgers on Feb.14 and at Georgetown on Feb. 17. Michael’s fourth honor is the most by a Syracuse freshman. Michael scored 13 points in Syracuse’s opening game of the weekend against the Scarlet Knights. She scored 19 points and pulled down a career-best 17 rebounds in SU’s 65-58 victory against the Hoyas. Her 17 rebounds are the most by an SU freshman since Felisha Legette also recorded 17 boards against Connecticut in 1985. Michael is averaging a team-leading 16.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for the Orange in 2006-07. Her 16.8 points rank seventh in the BIG EAST while her 8.6 rebounds is the fifth-best mark in the conference. Michael is first among freshman in the conference in scoring and second in rebounding.

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. She 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 earned the conference accolades for a third time on Jan. 8. She averaged 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals in two games. Michael’s fourth honor tops the record set by former Orange standouts Legette and Angel Lewis. Legette earned the conference honor three times during the 1984-85 season, while Lewis duplicated the feat in 1991-92.

SCOUTING THE BEATCATS

The University of Cincinnati (14-13, 5-9 BIG EAST) could not overcome a 10-point halftime deficit, falling to West Virginia, 61-49, on Feb. 24 at WVU Coliseum. Karen Twehues led the Bearcats with 17 points, the second consecutive game the senior has led the Bearcats in that category. Michelle Jones had a game-high 11 rebounds, helping UC outrebound WVU, 41-31. Treasure Humphries had eight to go along with her nine points and four steals. Shelly Bellman had a team-high four assists for the Bearcats.

Treasure Humphries leads the way for the Bearcats with a team-high 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and a team-best 2.3 steals. Michelle Jones has added 10.0 points and 6.0 rebounds. Shelly Bellman has contributed 10.5 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds. Karen Twehues is averaging 9.1 points and 4.6 rebounds and Carla Jones has donated 8.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and a team-best 4.2 assists.

Laurie Pirtle, (309-300 (.507)) is in her 21st season as head coach of the Bearcats women’s basketball team. UC has been outrebounded only four times this season. Only twice this season the Bearcats have not allowed a 3-point field goal. The Bearcats average 8.6 steals a game. Eight of the Bearcats’ 10 losses this season have been to ranked teams or teams receiving votes in the polls. UC lost at St. John’s 72-66 on Feb. 17. All 10 UC players who played scored, including sophomore guard Shelly Bellman who tallied a teambest 16 points and eight rebounds

THE SYRACUSE-CINCINNATI SERIES

The Orange and Bearcats have met three times previously. Cincinnati leads the all-time series, 2-1. SU’s lone win came during the Orange’s run to the 2002 NCAA Tournament, Syracuse earned a 70-68 decision in Cincinnati. Julie McBride scored 19 points in 40 minutes of action and Shannon Perry netted 15 points to go along with nine rebounds to lead the Orange to victory. The two squads first got together in 1982 as part of the Domino’s Wolverine Classic in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Bearcats won that encounter, 75-70. Cincinnati defeated SU, 59-43, last season in the Carrier Dome.

Syracuse University Athletics

Orange Faces Bearcats with BIG EAST Tournament Hopes

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