Orange Hosts Penn State in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

No. 21/22 Syracuse (5-1) vs. Penn State (1-5)
Game Details: Thursday, December 4 | 7 p.m.
Location: Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y.
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Audio | @Cuse Twitter | @CuseWBB Twitter
Game Notes: Syracuse | Penn State

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The No. 21/22 Syracuse women's basketball team will take on the defending Big Ten regular season champion Penn State in the 2014 ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Thursday night at home. The game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.

The 2014-15 season marks Syracuse's second season in the ACC. In its inaugural year in 2013-14, the Orange hit the road for Iowa for its first ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Syracuse led No. 25/RV Iowa by 10 points at halftime, but ultimately suffered a 97-91 loss on Dec. 5, 2013.

Thursday night's contest marks the second contest in a four-game homestand for the Orange. On Monday, Syracuse defeated Vermont, 94-63, in its game at the Carrier Dome since the 2014-15 season-opener on Nov. 16.

Fondren Flourishes
Junior guard Cornelia Fondren has been one of the top performers on the Orange thus far this season. A starter in every game in 2014-15, Fondren ranks second on the team in assists, averaging 3.3 helpers per game. She also ranks third in rebounding with a 4.7 rebounds per contest average and fourth in scoring, averaging 8.3 points a game.

The Memphis, Tenn. native had a career night against Vermont. She set career-highs with 14 points, eight rebounds, and five steals. Her five steals are the most by a Syracuse player during the 2014-15 season.

Fondren and sophomore guard Alexis Peterson have shared distribution duty for the squad. Her 3.3 assists per game ranks 14th in the ACC and 249th nationally. In addition, Fondren owns a 1.67 assist-turnover ratio, which ranks 14th in the league and 143rd in the country.

Block Party
The Orange have turned away an average of 4.7 shots per game through the first six contests of the 2014-15 season. Syracuse ranks sixth in the ACC and 55th in the country in blocked shots per game. In the team's last game, the club blocked a season-best eight shots against Vermont.

Sophomores Bria and Briana Day and freshman center Amber Witherspoon have sent opponent shots soaring away from the rim in 2014-15. Currently, Syracuse is the only team in the ACC to have three players ranked in the top 15 in the conference in blocked shots per game.

Bria Day leads the team with 1.4 blocks per game, which ranks eighth in the ACC and 145th nationally. Her twin sister, Briana, does not rank too far behind with 1.33 blocked shots per contest. Her 1.33 blocks a game ranks ninth in the league and 169th in the country. Witherspoon averages 1.17 per game, which ranks 13th in the conference and 216th in NCAA Division I women's basketball.

Series Breakdown
Thursday night marks the 19th meeting between Syracuse and Penn State. The Lady Lions own a 16-2 advantage in the all-time series. After dropping the first game in the Quentin Hillsman tenure on Nov. 12, 2006, 71-46, Syracuse defeated Penn State, 72-53, a year later in the two programs' last meeting.

Orange Hosts Penn State in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

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Players Mentioned

Bria Day

Briana Day

Cornelia Fondren

Alexis Peterson

Amber Witherspoon

Syracuse University Athletics