In-State Showdown for Women's Basketball

No. 22/23 Syracuse (8-3) vs. Cornell (6-4)
Game Details: Sunday, Dec. 28 | 6 p.m.
Location: Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y.
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Audio | @CuseTwitter | @CuseWBB Twitter
Game Notes: Syracuse | Cornell

SYRACUSE, N.Y – The No. 22/23 Syracuse University women's basketball team returns to the court after a week hiatus when it takes on in-state foe Cornell on Sunday night. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. at the Carrier Dome.

In its most recent game, Syracuse suffered an 89-76 loss to No. 18/21 Michigan State at the Florida Sunshine Classic on Dec. 21. It marked the team's second straight game against a top-25 opponent.

For the third time in 2014-15, the Syracuse women's basketball team will play a team from the state of New York when it faces Cornell on Sunday. The team owns a 196-81 (.708) overall record against in-state opponents. In addition, Syracuse has not lost to a team from New York since a loss to St. John's on Jan. 11, 2012.

From Downtown
Junior guard Brianna Butler has continued to prove she is a threat from anywhere on the court for opposing defenses. Butler currently averages 13.2 points per game, which ranks second on the team and 22nd in the ACC.

One could easily say that Butler's strength is her 3-point shooting. With 2.73 3-point field goals made per game, she ranks second in the ACC and 43rd in the nation. Butler has knocked down four 3-point field goals on four different occasions during the 2014-15 season.

At the Junkanoo Jam, Butler averaged 15.5 points per game against East Carolina and No. 1/2 South Carolina. She registered seven 3-point field goals in two games in the Bahamas. Butler is now 49 3-point field goals shy of the Syracuse career record currently held by Julie McBride, who sank 229 from 2001-04.

In the team's latest game, Butler matched her season-high with 18 points against Michigan State on Dec. 21 at the Florida Sunshine Classic. The King of Prussia, Pa. native scored in double-figures for the ninth straight contest.

Coming Out Hot
Since a rough start to the 2014-15 season when Syracuse opened the year with a 22-point first half against Fordham in the season-opener, the Orange has been clicking in the first 20 minutes of play. In five of its past 10 games, Syracuse has scored at least 40 points in the first half.

Currently, the team is outscoring its opposition, 401-278, in the first 20 minutes of play. On average, the club holds a lead of 11.2 points entering the locker room following the opening half. Syracuse has led or been tied at half in every game during the 2014-15 season.

Against East Carolina on Nov. 27 at the Junkanoo Jam, Syracuse jumped out to a 47-27 halftime lead. It matched the most points scored by the Orange in the first half this season and marked the second straight game that the led by at least 20 points following the first 20 minutes of action.

Syracuse enjoyed a first-half lead against South Carolina, the No. 1 team in the nation at the time, in the final of the 2014 Junkanoo Jam Lucaya Division. The Orange led the Gamecocks, 35-31, at the half, before suffering a setback to the top squad in the country. Sophomore guard Alexis Peterson hit a runner at the buzzer to cap off a great opening 20 minutes for Syracuse.

Series Breakdown
Sunday night's matchup marks the 19th meeting all-time between Syracuse and Cornell. It marks the third consecutive year that the Orange and Big Red will meet. Syracuse owns a six-game winning streak against Cornell. The squad has not suffered a setback to the Big Red since Dec. 20, 2003.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Brianna Butler

Alexis Peterson

Syracuse University Athletics