#17 Syracuse Plays #2/3 Notre Dame for ACC Title

No. 17/17 Syracuse (25-6) vs. No. 2/3 Notre Dame (30-1)
Game Details: Sunday, March 6, 2016 | 12:30 p.m.
Location: Greensboro, N.C. | Greensboro Coliseum
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Audio | Video | @CuseWBB Twitter
Television: ESPN
Game Notes: Syracuse

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The No. 17/17 Syracuse University women's basketball team is looking to capture its second conference tournament championship title in program history, its first since 1985, when it takes on No. 2/3 Notre Dame in the ACC Tournament final on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.

Sunday's contest will be televised on ESPN and Beth Mowins (pbp) and Debbie Antonelli (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, Syracuse knocked off No. 7/6 Louisville, 80-75, in the ACC Tournament semifinals on March 5. With the win, the Orange advance to their first conference tournament final as a league member. In addition, the squad defeated a nationally-ranked opponent for the fourth time the season, which is a program record.

Notre Dame enters Sunday's contest looking for its third consecutive ACC Tournament title. The Fighting Irish sport a 30-1 overall record and finished conference play with a perfect 16-0 mark. The team was ranked No. 2 nationally in the latest Associated Press Poll and No. 3 in the country in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

Success Against the Best
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 80-75 victory against No. 7/6 Louisville on March 5.

Syracuse has knocked off the No. 6 team in the nation three times during Hillsman's tenure. Those three wins mark the highest-ranked foes the Orange have beaten under Hillsman.

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
Syracuse heads to their first Atlantic Coast Conference championship game with an 80-75 victory against No. 7/6 Louisville on March 5 in the Greensboro Coliseum.

Syracuse returns to its first conference title game since 1988 with the victory over No. 2 seed Louisville. The victory is the Orange's fourth win this season against a ranked opponent, the most in program history.

Louisville returned in the second half to tie it up at 51-51 with five minutes left to play in the third quarter. The two teams went back and forth, entering the final 10 minutes of play with the score even at 62-62. A monster block from junior center Bria Day sent senior guard Brianna Butler off with a jumper to give the Orange the 76-73 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the contest.

Down by one, the Cardinals were forced to foul, sending senior guard Cornelia Fondren to the line with 18 seconds on the clock. Fondren shot 7-10 from the line on the day and she hit them when it mattered most, knocking down both. Butler was sent to the line with five seconds remaining, hitting both and solidifying the Orange's 80-75 victory.

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

#17 Syracuse Plays #2/3 Notre Dame for ACC Title

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Players Mentioned

Brianna Butler

Bria Day

Cornelia Fondren

Syracuse University Athletics