#23/18 Syracuse Heads to Pittsburgh

Sunday, February 21

Pittsburgh

3:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Pittsburgh

2/20/2016 10:11:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Orange looking for eighth straight win

No. 23/18 Syracuse (21-6, 11-3) at Pittsburgh (12-14, 4-9)
Game Details: Sunday, February 21 | 3:00 p.m.
Location: Peterson Events Center | Pittsburgh
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Audio | Video | @CuseWBB Twitter
Televison: Regional Sports Networks
Game Notes: Syracuse

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The No. 23/18 Syracuse University women's basketball team looks to its extend its program-record seven-game winning streak in Atlantic Coast Conference competition on Sunday afternoon when it takes on Pittsburgh. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. at the Peterson Events Center.

Sunday's game will be broadcast on the Regional Sports Networks and Mike Hogewood (pbp) and Chelsea Shine-Wilson (analyst) will be on the call. Brian Higgins '04 (pbp) will be on the call live on the Syracuse IMG Sports Network. As always, follow @CuseWBB on Twitter for live in-game updates.

In their last game, the Orange defeated No. 10/9 Florida State on Senior Day on Feb. 18. It marked the fifth win against a top-10 opponent in program history. Junior guard Alexis Peterson led the way with 17 points on the night.

Pittsburgh enters Sunday's game with a 12-14 overall record and 4-9 conference mark. In their last game, the Panthers tallied a 76-60 victory at North Carolina on Feb. 18. Sophomore forward Stasha Carey had 14 points and 15 rebounds in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Frontcourt Force
Under head coach Quentin Hillsman, the Orange have defeated at least one opponent ranked in the top 25 of the Associated Press Poll every season since 2007-08. Syracuse's last victory against a nationally-ranked foe was an 83-73 victory against No. 10/9 Florida State on Feb. 18.

This season, Syracuse has defeated three nationally ranked foes (No. 12/12 Duke, No. 16/17 Miami, and No. 10/9 Florida State. That matches the program record set by the 2001-02 squad.

Syracuse has knocked off the No. 6 team in the nation twice during Hillsman's tenure. Those two wins mark the highest-ranked foes the Orange have beaten under Hillsman. SU defeated No. 6/6 Ohio State, 75-66, in 2010 and No. 6/6 North Carolina, 78-73, in 2014.

The Orange defeated No. 2/2 Connecticut, 62-59, at Manley Field House on Jan. 2, 1996. To date, that marks the highest-ranked opponent Syracuse has defeated in program history.

Last Time Out
Knocking down four shots from behind the arc in the first quarter, senior guard Brianna Butler helped power Syracuse to an 83-73 victory against 10/9 Florida State on Senior Day at the Carrier Dome on Feb. 18.

The victory marked the Orange's third win against a ranked opponent this year, beating No. 12/12 Duke and No. 16/17 Miami earlier in conference play. It matches the program record set in 2001-02.

Butler's performance in the first quarter gave Syracuse a 10-point advantage over Florida State. The Seminoles tied the game up at 31, but a 3-point field goal from redshirt senior guard Maggie Morrison helped Syracuse to regain the lead. Consistency from senior guard Cornelia Fondren at the free-throw line, shooting 6-6 in the first half, sent the Orange into the locker room with the 47-44 advantage.

Back-to-back layups from junior center Briana Day and Peterson set the Orange off in the second half. The Seminoles were able to pull within three points, but the Orange did not relinquish their lead. Three points, the old-fashioned way, from redshirt junior guard Brittney Sykes less than a minute into the fourth quarter solidified the victory for Syracuse.

For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /SyracuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram, and @CuseWBB on Twitter.