Syracuse University
Long Island University
New York's College Team Faces Instate Foe Long Island Monday
11/19/2010 11:02:49 AM | Women's Basketball
| Game Three | ||
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vs. |  |
| 2-0 overall, 0-0 BIG EAST | 2-0 overall, 0-0 Northeast | |
| Game Info | Monday, November 22 | 7 p.m. | |
| Location | Syracuse, N.Y. | Carrier Dome | |
| Tickets | Purchase Tickets Single Game $10 | Season Tickets $90 |
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| Watch | Orange All Access | Live Stats | |
| Listen | Orange All Access | ESPN 97.7 FM | |
| Game Information | Syracuse Game Notes | Long Island Game Notes | |
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Syracuse (2-0) continues its eight-game homestand when it hosts Long Island on Monday, November 22 at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Entering Monday's game, the Orange has won 29 consecutive non-conference home games, including 23 in the Dome.
The game can be heard live on SU's flagship station WTLA 1200 AM and 97.7 FM (WSGO 1440 AM and 100.1 FM in Oswego) or on Syracuse's student station WJPZ 89.1 FM. Live video and audio for every Orange game is available on SUAthletics.com via Orange All Access.
Last Time Out
Syracuse used a dominant inside presence to run past Cornell, 86-45, last Monday night in the Carrier Dome. The Orange broke the game open with a 21-0 run which spanned more than nine minutes from the end of the first half through the 16:18 minute mark of the second half. Syracuse dominated the lane for the entirety of the game, outrebounding the Big Red, 52-28, while holding a 38-6 advantage in points in the paint. The Orange turned 26 Cornell miscues into 26 points and held a 28-8 advantage in second chance buckets.
Sophomore forward Kayla Alexander led the Orange with a game-high 19 points, three blocked shots and a team-high tying eight rebounds. Junior forward Iasia Hemingwaywas second on the team with 10 points, eight boards and a pair of assists while rookie La'Shay Taft rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 points, including four three-point field goals and a trio of steals.
Season Opening Success
Syracuse is 2-0 for the third-consecutive season. An Orange victory against Long Island will give SU a 3-0 record for the second-straight year.
Holding Down the Middle
Center Kayla Alexander is off to a stellar sophomore campagin. The 2009-10 BIG EAST All-Rookie Team honoree is leading the Orange in points (15.5), rebounds (10.0) and blocks (3.5) per game. She is also second on the squad in field goal percentage, making 60.0 percent (12-20) of her attempts. The Milton, Ontario natvie registered her second career double-double in the season-opener against Northeastern with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Rebounding is What We Do
The ORange has made rebounding a habit since head coach Quentin Hillsman took the reins of the program. Three of the top four rebounding performances in Syracuse history have come during the last three seasons. SU set a season record with 1,638 rebounds last year. SU's 2008-09 total of 1,366 ranks third and its 2007-08 total of 1,347 is fourth on Syracuse's single-season chart.
The Orange outrebounded 29 opponents in 2009-10, averaging 45.5 rebounds per game (first in the BIG EAST Conference), while grabbing 50-plus rebounds in 10 games. Syracuse was also first in the BIG EAST in offensive rebounds (17.9) and second in rebounding margin (+9.7). SU ended the season sixth in the NCAA in rebounding margin.
Syracuse has outrebounded both of its opponents this season by an average of 30.0. SU has grabbed 65 rebounds against Northeastern and 52 against Cornell. The Orange also registered 37 and 23 offensive rebounds, respectively.
Syracuse - Long Island Series
Syracuse leads the all-time series with Long Island, 4-1, including a 2-0 mark in Syracuse. However, this will be the first meeting between the two teams in the Carrier Dome. The Orange has won the last two meetings, including an 82-55 win at LIU in the last matchup between the two teams on Nov. 22, 2000. Syracuse's Leigh Aziz registered a double-double with 11 points and 20 rebounds.
Scouting Long Island
Long Island, which is 2-0 for the first time since the 1979-80 season, has three players averaging double-figures. Chelsi Johnson leads Long Island with 14.5 points per game. Ashley Palmer is second, averaging 13.0 points per contest and Heidi Mothershead is third with 12.0 ppg. Palmer paces the Blackbirds with 9.5 rebounds per game. Johnson is second, pulling down 6.5 caroms per contest. Palmer is shooting 52.2 percent (12-23) from the field to lead Long Island. Mothershead's 50.0 percent (5-10) mark from long range is tops on the team. As a team, Long Island is shooting 44.9 percent (48-107) from the floor and 43.5 percent (10-23) from beyond the arc.
The Blackbirds have been without Louisville transfer Kiara Evans so far this season. She set a school-record with 206 assists last season.
After going 22-10 with a 14-4 mark in Northeast Conference play last season, the Blackbirds were picked to finish first in the NEC's preseason poll of head coaches. Palmer was named to the preseason all-conference team.
Up Next
Syracuse hosts New Hampshire on Monday, November 29 at 7 p.m.
