Syracuse University
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Mississippi State
Orange Geared for Duel in the Desert
12/20/2017 4:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
rv/22 Syracuse (11-0, 0-0) vs. 5/3 Mississippi State (12-0, 0-0)
Game Details: Thursday, Dec. 21 | 2:30 p.m. PST
Location: Cox Pavilion | Las Vegas, Nev.
Game Coverage: Watch | Audio | @CuseWBB Twitter
Game Notes: Syracuse | Mississippi State
rv/22 Syracuse (11-0, 0-0) vs. UNLV (5-5, 0-0)
Game Details: Friday, Dec. 22 | 2:30 p.m. PST
Location: Cox Pavilion | Las Vegas, Nev.
Game Coverage: Watch | Â Audio | @CuseWBB Twitter
Game Notes: Syracuse | UNLV
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange head to Las Vegas to participate in the Duel in the Desert, taking on No. 5/3 Mississippi State and UNLV in a two-game tournament. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. PST both days and the games will air on FloHoops or can be heard on Syracuse IMG Sports Network with Sean Cameron on the play-by-play call.
Syracuse is rocking a perfect 11-0 record after defeating Coastal Carolina 69-57 on Dec. 17 as part of the Carolinas challenge. The Orange are one of 10 remaining undefeated teams in the nation and sit alongside Florida State and Louisville as the only unbeaten teams in the ACC. Two Orange, Miranda Drummond (17.5) and Tiana Mangakahia (16.0) are averaging double-digit outings this season while four Orange Digna Strautmane (8.2), Drummond (6.5), Gabrielle Cooper (6.5) and Amaya Finklea-Guity (5.2) are averaging at least 5.0 rebounds per game thus far in the 2017-18 campaign.
The Bulldogs are one of the 10 remaining undefeated teams in the country, boasting an 12-0 record so far this year. Mississippi State has faced two ranked opponents this season No. 24 Arizona State and No. 9 Oregon, coming out on top in both outings. The Bulldogs are outscoring opponents by almost 30 points per game and have three players averaging double-digits on the season. Teaira McCowan paces Mississippi State, averaging 17.5 points and 12.2 rebounds per game.
UNLV holds a 5-5Â mark on the season but are 4-2Â when playing at Cox Pavilion this year. The Rebels are most recently coming off a 103-63Â loss to No. 5/3 Mississippi State. Junior Katie Powell has been a significant factor for UNLV, averaging 13.7 points and 9.4 boards per outing.
This is the first meeting in Syracuse program history between the Orange and both the Bulldogs and the Rebels. 'Cuse has also never faced a team from either Mississippi or Nevada.
ORANGE IN SIN CITY
The Orange are no strangers to the Duel, having competed in the tournament once before back in 2011. Syracuse posted a 2-1 record in three games played in Vegas, defeating Xavier and Ohio but falling to Oklahoma.
Syracuse traveled to Las Vegas again in 2015 to participate in the South Point Shootout over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Orange emerged victorious in both games, topping Washington 66-62 and recording a 76-54 rout of Fordham the following day.
A pair of wins in this year's Duel would give 'Cuse a 7-1 mark when playing in Las Vegas.
COOPER COUNTER
Cooper made her presence known on Sunday when she pinned 24 points on Coastal Carolina, tying her career-high in scoring. She matched her career-high for field goal attempts (19) and set a new season-high.
The Chicago native is coming off a freshman season during which she knocked down an 81 3-pointers, a program-best for a freshman. Cooper paces the Orange in field goals from beyond the arc, sitting at 29 on the season. She has tallied 4+ made threes in four games this season, including a team-best five against Hartford.
UP NEXT
Syracuse opens ACC play on Dec. 27 when the Orange take on No. 2 Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. The game tips off at 7 p.m. and can be streamed on ACC Network Extra or heard on Syracuse IMG Sports Network and Cuse.TV.
For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /CuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBBÂ on Instagram and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
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