Photo by: Brianna Prisco
Syracuse to Play in the Duel in the Desert
8/2/2017 12:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Matchups set against Mississippi State and UNLV
LAS VEGAS – The Syracuse women's basketball team will participate in the 2017 Duel in the Desert, Basketball Travelers, Inc. announced on Wednesday. Syracuse will take on 2017 national runner-up Mississippi State on Thursday, December 21 and tournament host UNLV the following day.
All games will be played at Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus. Both contests involving the Orange will tip off at 5:30 p.m. ET.
It marks the first time that Syracuse will play either the Bulldogs or Lady Rebels. In addition, the team's contest against Mississippi State is a matchup of the previous two national runners-up, while its game against UNLV serves as the non-conference finale of the 2017-18 regular season.
The 2016-17 Orange advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season, one of 15 programs nationally to do so. 2017 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman Team honoree Gabby Cooper leads a returning core that will join with one of the nation's top recruiting classes to form the 2017-18 squad.
Mississippi State finished the 2016-17 season with a 34-5 overall record and advanced to the 2017 NCAA Tournament final, before losing to South Carolina. Rising senior guard Victoria Vivians, a 2017 Associated Press All-American, is the team's leading returning scorer after averaging 16.2 points per game.
UNLV tallied a 22-11 overall record on the 2016-17 campaign and participated in the 2017 WNIT, losing in the first round. Rising senior guard Brooke Johnson recorded 12.2 points per contest and is the squad's leading returning scorer.
2017-18 Schedule
Friday, Nov. 10 – Morgan State (TBA, Carrier Dome)
Thursday, Nov. 16 – Maryland Eastern Shore (TBA, Carrier Dome)
Monday, Nov. 20 – Hartford (11 a.m., Carrier Dome)
Thursday, Nov. 23 – vs. Wisconsin (8:30 p.m., St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Friday, Nov. 24 – vs. Vanderbilt (8:30 p.m., St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Saturday, Nov. 25 – vs. George Washington (8:30 p.m., St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Thursday, Nov. 30 – Northwestern (8:30 p.m., Carrier Dome)
Sunday, Dec. 3 – Stony Brook (TBA, Carrier Dome)
Wednesday, Dec. 6 – Colgate (TBA, Carrier Dome)
Saturday, Dec. 9 – Drexel (TBA, Carrier Dome)
Sunday, Dec. 17 – vs. Coastal Carolina (6:30 p.m., Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
Thursday, Dec. 21 – vs. Mississippi State (5:30 p.m., Las Vegas)
Friday, Dec. 22 – at UNLV (5:30 p.m., Las Vegas)
For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /CuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram, and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
Be a part of the 2017-18 season, order season tickets today! $75 for general admission and $125 for courtside tickets. One can purchase tickets here.
All games will be played at Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus. Both contests involving the Orange will tip off at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Syracuse will play @HailStateWBK and @UNLVLadyRebels at the Duel in the Desert. ???? #OrangeCollar pic.twitter.com/3An1uGNQsF
— 'Cuse Women's Hoops (@CuseWBB) August 2, 2017
It marks the first time that Syracuse will play either the Bulldogs or Lady Rebels. In addition, the team's contest against Mississippi State is a matchup of the previous two national runners-up, while its game against UNLV serves as the non-conference finale of the 2017-18 regular season.
The 2016-17 Orange advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season, one of 15 programs nationally to do so. 2017 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman Team honoree Gabby Cooper leads a returning core that will join with one of the nation's top recruiting classes to form the 2017-18 squad.
Mississippi State finished the 2016-17 season with a 34-5 overall record and advanced to the 2017 NCAA Tournament final, before losing to South Carolina. Rising senior guard Victoria Vivians, a 2017 Associated Press All-American, is the team's leading returning scorer after averaging 16.2 points per game.
UNLV tallied a 22-11 overall record on the 2016-17 campaign and participated in the 2017 WNIT, losing in the first round. Rising senior guard Brooke Johnson recorded 12.2 points per contest and is the squad's leading returning scorer.
2017-18 Schedule
Friday, Nov. 10 – Morgan State (TBA, Carrier Dome)
Thursday, Nov. 16 – Maryland Eastern Shore (TBA, Carrier Dome)
Monday, Nov. 20 – Hartford (11 a.m., Carrier Dome)
Thursday, Nov. 23 – vs. Wisconsin (8:30 p.m., St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Friday, Nov. 24 – vs. Vanderbilt (8:30 p.m., St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Saturday, Nov. 25 – vs. George Washington (8:30 p.m., St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Thursday, Nov. 30 – Northwestern (8:30 p.m., Carrier Dome)
Sunday, Dec. 3 – Stony Brook (TBA, Carrier Dome)
Wednesday, Dec. 6 – Colgate (TBA, Carrier Dome)
Saturday, Dec. 9 – Drexel (TBA, Carrier Dome)
Sunday, Dec. 17 – vs. Coastal Carolina (6:30 p.m., Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
Thursday, Dec. 21 – vs. Mississippi State (5:30 p.m., Las Vegas)
Friday, Dec. 22 – at UNLV (5:30 p.m., Las Vegas)
For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /CuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram, and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
Be a part of the 2017-18 season, order season tickets today! $75 for general admission and $125 for courtside tickets. One can purchase tickets here.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballPostgame Press Conference vs. Louisville - ACC 3rd Round
Saturday, March 07
Postgame Press Conference vs. Louisville - ACC 3rd Round
Friday, March 06
Highlights | Syracuse vs. Louisville
Friday, March 06
Postgame Press Conference vs. Cal - ACC 2nd Round
Thursday, March 05
