Women's Basketball Opens Season Sunday

Sunday, November 16

Syracuse, N.Y.

12 p.m.

Syracuse University

Fordham

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Photo by: Tim Cowie

11/15/2014 4:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball

No. 24/25 Syracuse hosts Fordham in season opener

No. 24/25 Syracuse (0-0) vs. Fordham (0-1)
Game Details: Sunday, November 16 | 12 p.m.
Location: Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y.
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Audio | @Cuse Twitter | @CuseWBB Twitter
Game Notes: Syracuse

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse University women's basketball team opens the 2014-15 regular season on Sunday, Nov. 16 at home against Fordham. The game is slated to begin at 12 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.

Syracuse is coming off its most successful season in program history in 2013-14. The Orange participated in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, a program-first. They followed up that feat with its first victory in NCAA Tournament play in program history by defeating Chattanooga in the first round. Syracuse suffered a 64-59 setback against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament second round, falling just short of its first Sweet 16 appearance in school history.

Three starters and nine total letterwinners return from the 2013-14 squad. Syracuse returns its top two scorers from a year ago in junior guards Brianna Butler and Brittney Sykes. Sykes was named to the 2014-15 Preseason All-ACC Team.

Following Sunday afternoon's contest, the team will be available for a poster signing. Get your 2014-15 Syracuse women's basketball poster signed after the game!

Let's Begin
Syracuse owns a 30-13 (.698) all-time in season-opening contests. Last year, the team recorded a 69-65 win on the road at Washington State to kickoff its campaign. Shakeya Leary led the team with a double-double, scoring 21 points and pulling down 16 boards.

Under head coach Quentin Hillsman, Syracuse owns a 7-1 mark in season-openers. The Orange lost its first-ever game under Hillsman, dropping the 2006-07 season-opener to Penn State, 71-46. Since then, Syracuse has won its first game of the year the last seven campaigns.

Preseason Hype
For the first time in Syracuse women's basketball program history, the team ranks in the top 25 of the both the Preseason Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls. Syracuse is ranked No. 24 in the AP Poll and checks in at No. 25 in the coaches' rankings.

Syracuse was ranked No. 24 in the country in the USA TODAY Sports Weekly Special Edition College Basketball Preview, which hit newsstands on Oct. 7. The USA TODAY Sports Weekly Special Edition College Basketball Preview provides projections and analysis heading into the 2014-15 men's and women's basketball seasons. USA TODAY Sports' Tess Quinlan projected the preseason Top 25 teams in women's basketball.

The Orange was ranked as high as No. 20 in the nation in the AP Poll during the 2013-14 season. It marked the highest the team had ever appeared in the Associated Press' rankings in school history. Syracuse peaked at No. 23 in the coaches' poll last season.

Series Breakdown
Syracuse and Fordham will meet for the third time in series history on Sunday afternoon in the Carrier Dome. Fordham has defeated Syracuse in their two previous meetings, with its latest victory against the Orange coming on Feb. 22, 1980. Fordham won 73-72.