WNIT First Round: Orange Hosts Hawks

Game 32
	vs.
22-9		23-9
Game Info	Thursday, March 17 \| 7 p.m.
Location	Syracuse, N.Y. \| Carrier Dome
Tickets	Purchase Tickets Single Game $11
Watch	Orange All Access \| Live Stats
Listen	Orange All Access \| ESPN 97.7 FM
Game Information	Syracuse Game Notes \| Monmouth Game Notes

The -/rv Syracuse University women's basketball team (22-9) will make its fourth consecutive postseason appearance when it hosts Monmouth (23-9) in the first round of the NIT Tournament inside the friendly confines of the Carrier Dome on Thursday, March 17 at 7 p.m. It marks the third straight season the Orange qualified for the NIT Tournament.

SU won three games and advanced to the quarterfinals of last season's NIT Tournament. Syracuse recorded the program's first postseason victory in the opening round against Canisius in 2009. It is SU's fourth postseason appearance in five years under the direction of fifth-year head coach Quentin Hillsman.

All Orange contests can be heard live on SU's flagship station ESPN 97.7 FM/1200 AM with Brian Higgins '04 on the call. Fans can also listen to the game on Syracuse's student station; WJPZ 89.1 FM. Live video and audio for every Orange home is available on SUAthletics.com via Orange All Access. Live statistics are also available on SUAthletics.com and on your phone at SUAthletics.com/wbbmobile.

Up Next: The winner of the Syracuse–Monmouth game will either face St. Bonaventure or Lehigh in the second round.

SCOUTING MONMOUTH
Monmouth, which is 23-9 and finished the year with a 13-5 record in Northeast Conference play, tied the program record for wins in a season. The Hawks lost in the finals of the NEC Tournament on March 13, 72-57 to top-seeded Saint Francis (Pa.). The Hawks had won their previous eight before losing to the Red Flash.

Monmouth is led by sophomore guard Alysha Womack's 12.8 points per game and sophomore guard Erin Rooney's 11.3 points per contest. Both were named to the league's second team. Rooney was also named the NEC Defensive Player of the Year. The Hawks started the same five players in all 32 games.

The Hawks will make their first ever appearance in the WNIT, and first postseason appearance since making the 1983 NCAA Tournament.

SERIES NOTES
Thursday's meeting will be the second between Syracuse and Monmouth on the hardwood. The Orange defeated the Hawks in the only other encounter, 82-71, on Dec. 29, 1980 in the La Salle Tournament in Philadelphia (AIAW).

The game was the first of a double-header for the Orange as SU went on to defeat La Salle later that day.

NIT FACTS
The Orange is making its third consecutive appearance in the National Invitational Tournament.

SU went 3-1 last season. Syracuse defeated Harvard, 87-68, in the first round, Richmond, 69-55, in round two and Virginia Commonwealth, 74-59, in the third round. The Orange lost at Michigan, 78-52, in the quarterfinals.

SU went 1-1 in the 2009 tournament. Syracuse defeated Canisus, 90-65, in the Carrier Dome in the first round on March 18, 2008. It was Syracuse's first postseason victory in program history. The Orange ended its season with a 72-69 loss in the second round of the NIT at Bowling Green on March 22.

DOME SWEET DOME
The Orange has been very impressive at home, recording a 17-2 record this season in Syracuse.

SU is 57-14 (.803) at home since the beginning of the 2007-08 season.

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Syracuse has won 39 consecutive non-conference home games (33 in the Carrier Dome). SU's last non-conference loss at home came on Dec. 22, 2006 against Canisius (56-43).

The Orange has also won 32 of its last 33 regular-season non-conference games, back to Nov. 26, 2008. Its only setback was to #2/2 Baylor.

Syracuse University Athletics

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