Alumnae Spotlight: Paula Rivers

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse University women's basketball program has achieved great success since its inception in 1971. Over the next two weeks, Cuse.com will spotlight a select alumna from the Syracuse women's basketball program daily.

In the seventh Cuse.com Alumnae Spotlight, we look at Paula Rivers, formerly Paula Moore.

Past spotlights:
Janice Long
Sue Ludwig
Thandeka Masimini
Kristen McCory
Libby McNulty
Beth Record

Rivers was a member of the Syracuse University women's basketball program from 1996-2001. For her collegiate career, she ranks 10th in Syracuse history in career scoring, tallying 1,254 points. She was a two-time All-BIG EAST honoree, as well.

As a freshman, Rivers made an immediate impact on the court for the Orange. She played in 27 games, starting 13 contests. She tallied 9.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in her debut season. On the year, she recorded seven double-doubles, which led BIG EAST rookies. For her efforts, Rivers was named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team.

Rivers improved her scoring average in her second season on campus, recording 11.3 points per game. In addition, she tallied 6.4 boards per contest for the Orange. In 1997-98, she led the team in scoring and rebounding seven times each.

In her third season on campus, Rivers established herself as one of the top players in the conference. She started all 27 games for the Orange, averaging 17.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest. Rivers ranks 10th in Syracuse history on the single-season scoring average list. For her performance in 1998-99, she was named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team. Her best effort of the year came against Seton Hall, when she tallied 31 points and 16 boards.

After redshirting the 1999-2000 season due to injury a senior, Rivers went out with a bang in 2000-01. She ranked second on the team in scoring and third in rebounding, averaging 12.1 points and 6.2 boards per contest. On the year, she led the team in scoring eight times and was tops on the squad in boards on five occasions.

To this day, Rivers still ranks as one of the all-time greats in program history. She is one of two players in program history that played in less than 100 games and scored at least 1,069 points. In addition, she ranks fifth in school history in career field goal percentage (.517) and eighth in career free throws made (302). She also pulled down 706 boards in her career, which ranks 10th in SU history.

Check back daily for more stories on the alumnae of the Syracuse women's basketball program.

The 2015-16 Syracuse University women's basketball team will embark on an international tour in early August. Syracuse will travel across the Atlantic Ocean to play teams from Austria, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. If one would like to support the program on its international tour, please click here.

Syracuse University Athletics

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