Senior guard Chandrea Jones was named to the 2008-09 Preseason All-BIG EAST team.
Orange Heads East To Open 2008-09 Campaign
11/13/2008 9:32:23 AM | Women's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The 2008 BIG EAST Coach of the Year Quentin Hillsman is back for his third year with Syracuse women’s basketball as it opens the 2008-09 season at Siena on Friday, Nov. 14. This is the fourth time SU has opened its season with Siena. Action is set to begin at 7 p.m.
The contest can be heard live on WTLA 1200/1400 AM, SUAthletics.com and WJPZ 89.1 FM. Live video and statistics will be available on SienaSaints.com.
The Orange heads into its opening matchup with at Siena 24-13 all-time in its season debuts and is 14-8 when opening the season on the road. Syracuse has won six of its last eight road openers. Siena currently leads the series with the Orange, 5-4, but SU won the last meeting between the two teams in 2007, 78-59.
Hillsman welcomes back four starters from the 2007-08 squad which finished with 22 wins, a program best, and made a berth in the NCAA Tournament. It was also the first Orange women’s basketball squad to break into the top 25.
Senior guard Chandrea Jones was named to the 2008-09 Preseason All-BIG EAST team. She led the team last season averaging 15.1 points per game and was second on the team with 7.9 rebounds per game. Jones was a 2007-08 Second-team All-BIG EAST honoree. Junior forward Nicole Michael earned conference honorable mention last season, while sophomore guards Tasha Harris and Erica Morrow landed on the All-Freshman team. The Orange is receiving votes in both national polls.
Following its game with the Saints, SU heads south to take on the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore on Sunday, Nov. 16. After the 3 p.m. matchup, the Orange has one more road game at No. 18/19 Ohio State on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.
Scouting the Saints
The Saints are coached by 19th year veteran head coach Gina Castelli. Last season, the Saints were 11-18 overall. Siena returns two starters and 11 letterwinners from the 2007-08 squad.
Saint Connections
Head coach Quentin Hillsman, Associate head coach Matt Luneau and assistant coach Mary McKissack-Grimes all have close connections to Siena. Hillsman was an assistant coach at Siena from 1999-01 under current Saint head coach Gina Castelli. Luneau was also an assistant coach from 1997-01. McKissack-Grimes graduated from Siena with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management in 2003. She was a four-year member of the Saints’ women’s basketball team that won three consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season championships.
Stanchion to Stanchion | Laila Phelia
Wednesday, March 04
Naithan George postgame at Louisville
Wednesday, March 04
Adrian Autry postgame at Louisville
Wednesday, March 04
Highlights | Syracuse vs. Louisville
Wednesday, March 04
