Syracuse University
University of South Florida
Orange Heads South to Begin Road Swing
1/15/2010 5:33:45 PM | Women's Basketball
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The RV/25 Syracuse University women's basketball team (15-1, 2-1) begins a three-game road swing at South Florida (9-7, 0-3) on Saturday, January 16 at 4 p.m. The Orange looks to build on its historic season by improving to 16-1 for the first time in its 39-year history. SU will attempt to win its third consecutive BIG EAST game since 2007-08, when it defeated Villanova, St. Johns and No. 23/24 DePaul.
The contest can be heard live on SU's flagship station WTLA 1200/1400 AM or on Syracuse's student station, WJPZ 89.1 FM. Live audio is available on SUAThletics.com via Orange All Access. Live video and live statistics will be available on GoUSFBulls.com.
Last Time Out
The Orange improved its record to 15-1 for the first time in its 39-year history with its 79-66 victory against Rutgers on January 13. Senior forward Nicole Michael led SU with 16 points and six rebounds to become SU's third all-time leading rebounder with 838 career rebounds. Freshman center Kayla Alexander scored 13 points for her fifth consecutive double-digit game, while also pulling down eight boards and setting a career-high with five blocks. Senior forward Juanita Ward and junior guard Erica Morrow pitched in 10 points apiece, while sophomore Tyler Ash was one point shy of a double-double with nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Despite being outscore 40-20 in points in the paint, Syracuse kept itself in the game with its 46.7 (7-15) percent 3-point shooting, while holding Rutgers to 10.5 (2-19) percent from behind the arc.
Alexander the Great
Freshman center Kayla Alexander has been a force to be reckoned with this season, as she has reached double-figures in points seven times, while also leading SU in blocks a team-high 13 times. She had eight rebounds, set a career-high with five blocks, and shot 3-of-4 (.750) from the field and 7-of-8 (.875) from the free throw line en route to scoring 13 points against Rutgers. It was her fifth consecutive double-digit game. Alexander is averaging 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 2.3 blocks in BIG EAST play. She is currently ranked 16th in the BIG EAST in scoring (13.4), while her 2.3 blocked shots is first in the league and 28th in the NCAA rankings.
Orange Against the Bulls
South Florida holds a slim 4-3 advantage in the all-time series against the Orange. Syracuse won the first two meetings in the 1989-90 season as part of in-season tournaments, while the Bulls defeated the Orange, 73-55, in Tampa in the first BIG EAST meeting between the two schools on Jan. 18, 2006. SU won its last trip down South, 67-60, during the 2007-08 season, but USF has come out victorious in the last two meetings, including a 68-67 overtime win in the 2008 BIG EAST Tournament and a 88-79 win in the Carrier Dome last season.
Scouting South Florida
The Bulls are 9-7 this season after losing its third straight BIG EAST game at No. 3/3 Notre Dame on January 12, 81-64. USF stayed in the game by shooting 50 percent until going cold with 7:30 minutes left, when it shot just 1-of-7 from the floor. The Irish dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Bulls, 47-13, and forced 20 turnovers leading to 30 points. Jessica Lawson leads the team in both scoring (14.4 ppg) and rebounding (10.7 rpg), while Janae Stokes has netted 12.0 point per game this season.
