Syracuse University
Old Dominion University
Orange Heads to Cancun for Thanksgiving
11/25/2009 12:31:30 PM | Women's Basketball
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CANCUN, Mexico – The RV/RV Syracuse women's basketball team will attempt to go 6-0 for the first time since 1997-98 when it travels to Cancun, Mexico for a pair of games at the Cancun Thanksgiving Classic on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27. The Orange plays Old Dominion on Thursday, followed by Butler on Friday, with both games tipping off at 8:15 p.m. ET. Both games can be heard on SU's flagship station WTLA 1200/1400 with Brian Higgins '04 on the call. Live audio is also available on SUAthletics.com via Orange All Access.
Last Time Out
Senior forward Nicole Michael registered the best game of her career in the 87-74 triumph against Binghamton on Sunday, November 22. She went 8-of-12 from 3-point range and scored 36 points to go along with a career-best tying 17 rebounds. Her career-best eight 3-pointers tied a Syracuse record. Junior guard Erica Morrow backed up Michael with 14 points and matched her career-high with nine assists, while senior forward Juanita Ward had nine points and pulled down six boards.
SU Receiving National Recognition
The Orange received three votes in the latest AP poll, putting SU tied for 40th in the nation. The Orange is also 35th in the country according to the latest USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll. Syracuse last received votes on January 12, 2009 and it is the second consecutive year it has received votes in the preseason poll after receiving 24 votes last year.
Michael Lights Up Against Binghamton
Michael was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll for her record-setting performance against Binghamton. Her eight 3-pointers matched a 21-year old school record, while her 36 points are the most scored in the Carrier Dome by a women's basketball player. The 36 points are tied for fourth on SU's single-game chart and are the most points scored by a Syracuse player since Vaida Sipaviciute scored a school-record 41 against Colgate on November 11, 2005. Michael is averaging a team-best 19.8 points, a team-high 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 assists in her final season. Her efforts have led SU to a 4-0 record, its best start since 2004-05 when it went 5-0.
Scouting Old Dominion
The Lady Monarchs are 0-3 after losing to North Carolina State, 62-52, on Monday, November 23. Shadasia Green led the team with 13 points and seven rebounds. ODU shot only 34.6 percent from the field (18-52) and knocked down just 12.5 percent from behind the arc (2-16). Old Dominion also struggled with turnovers, as it turned the ball over 24 times leading to 18 NC State points. This year's top returner is senior forward Jessica Canady, who was a 2nd team All-CAA forward last year and was tabbed to the Pre-Season First Team headed into her final campaign.
Orange Against the Lady Monarchs
Old Dominion holds the 7-4 advantage against SU, in a series dating back to the 1981-82 season. The Orange has won three of the last five meetings, including an 85-84 overtime win to open the 2000-01 season. ODU was ranked 18/12 at the time. Syracuse lost its first NCAA Tournament game in program history to ODU, 88-63, on March 16, 1985. The two teams have never met at a neutral site.
Scouting Butler
The Bulldogs are 2-1 after beating St. Louis, 69-57, on Saturday, November 21. Alyssa Pittman scored 13 off the bench, while Brittany Bowen added 11. Butler shot 10-for-22 (.455) in the first half and 11-20 (.550) in the second, while holding St. Louis to just 26 points in the final 20 minutes. Susan Lester leads the Bulldogs in scoring (16.0) and rebounding (7.3), while she and Bowen have scored in double digits in every game this season.
Orange Against the Bulldogs
This is the first meeting between Syracuse and Butler. The Orange is 2-0 this season against first-time opponents after defeating Presbyterian College and Alabama State.
