#23/22 Orange Hosts Miami in Play 4Kay Game

Thursday, February 12

Syracuse, N.Y.

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

Miami

2/11/2015 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Looking for third straight victory in ACC action

No. 23/22 Syracuse (17-7, 6-4) vs. Miami (16-7, 6-4)
Game Details: Thursday, February 12 | 7 p.m.
Location: Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y. | Tickets
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Audio | Video | @Cuse Twitter | @CuseWBB Twitter
Game Notes: Syracuse | Miami

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The No. 23/22 Syracuse University women's basketball team hosts Miami on Thursday night in its annual Play 4Kay game. The game is slated to start at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Free pink t-shirts and ribbons will be given out, as well. In addition, fans will have the opportunity to win courtside seats to the men's basketball game against Duke on Saturday night.

In the squad's last game, Syracuse defeated Atlantic Coast Conference-foe Georgia Tech on the road on Sunday afternoon, 65-60. With the victory, the Orange scored its third victory away from the Carrier Dome in conference play, evening its record to 3-3 on the road in ACC action.

Beginning with Miami on Thursday night, Syracuse will play three of its next four contests at the Carrier Dome. Those three home games are also the final three in the friendly confines of the Carrier Dome for the 2014-15 season. Currently, the team owns an 11-1 record at home, with its only loss coming to No. 4/4 Notre Dame.

3-Point Threat
Junior guard Brianna Butler has proven that she is a threat from any spot on the court during the 2014-15 season. Butler currently ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.4 points per game for the Orange. She ranks second on the team in times leading the club in scoring (8) and double-figures scoring contests (16).

One could easily say that the Butler's strength in her 3-point field goal shooting. Butler leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in 3-point field goals made per game, averaging 2.75 3-point field goals made per contest. She has knocked down at least four 3-point field goals on seven different occasions this year. She is 11 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 first-ever trip to historic Cameron Indoor Stadium on Jan. 8, Butler put together her best outing of the year. Butler scored a season-best 23 points on seven 3-point field goals, which matched a career-best. She knocked down three 3-point field goals in the final seven minutes of play at No. 13/12 Duke, including the game-tying 3-point field goal with 52 seconds remaining in regulation.

The junior guard started off conference competition with a bang against No. 4/4 Notre Dame on Jan. 4. Butler led the team with 19 points against the Fighting Irish, the 2013 national runner-up. She currently ranks second on the club in scoring in ACC action, averaging 12.1 points per game against in-conference opposition.

After only managing five and seven points, respectively, in the team's first two outings of the 2014-15 season, Butler scored in double-figures in 10 consecutive games. In that time, she scored more than 15 points on five different occasions. The King of Prussia, Pa. native scored 18 points twice, both coming against two of the nation's top teams, No. 1/2 South Carolina and No. 18/21 Michigan State.

From Deep
As a team, Syracuse averages 7.5 3-point field goals made per game for the 2014-15 campaign. The club ranks second in the ACC in shots made from downtown and 32nd nationally.

In the Orange's latest contest, the club sank six 3-point field goals in the first half at Georgia Tech on Feb. 8. Junior guard Brianna Butler and sophomore forward Isabella Slim each knocked down two 3-point field goals in that frame. Junior guard Cornelia Fondren and sophomore guard Alexis Peterson each had one, as well. It marked the third time in conference competition that the team opened the game with at least six first-half 3-point field goals.

In the team's second and third game in Atlantic Coast Conference play, Syracuse was red-hot from beyond the 3-point line. The Orange knocked down a season-best 13 3-point field goals at No. 13/12 Duke on Jan. 8 and had 12 3-point field goals against Virginia on Jan. 11.

Butler registered a personal-best seven 3-point field goals at Cameron Indoor Stadium against the Blue Devils. It marked the most 3-point field goals by a Syracuse player during the 2014-15 season. Senior guard Maggie Morrison followed that effort up by going 4-of-5 from beyond the arc against the Cavaliers for a career-best 12 points.

Series Breakdown
Syracuse and Miami will meet for the 25th time on Thursday night in the Carrier Dome. It marks the Hurricanes' first trip back to Syracuse since Feb. 18, 2004. The teams have split the past six meetings, with the Orange winning the last contest last year.

Last season, Syracuse scored a 69-48 road victory at Miami on Feb. 20, 2014. Brittney Sykes scored 13 of her team-best 18 points in the second half to fuel the Orange to a 21-point victory.