Saturday, March 17
Starkville, Miss.
3:30 PM
Syracuse University
vs
Oklahoma State
Orange Set to Face Oklahoma State in NCAA First Round
3/15/2018 7:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – For the sixth-straight year the Orange are headed to the Big Dance, but this year, Syracuse will face a unfamiliar foe in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. No. 8 seed 'Cuse and 9-seed Oklahoma State will meet for the first time in program history in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday afternoon in Starkville, Miss. Tip-off is slated for 3:30 pm on ESPN2 with Courtney Lyle and Tamika Catchings on the call.
Do not miss the chance to join the women's basketball team in Starkville. Fans may order by calling the Carrier Dome box office at 888-DOME-TIX during regular business hours (M-F 8:30 - 4:30).
Syracuse (22-8) enters Saturday with over two weeks of rest following a second-round exit in the 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament by way of an 85-70 loss to Virginia Tech. With rest comes preparation as 'Cuse has taken the time to prepare mentally and physically for the task at hand, another NCAA Tournament run.
The Orange earned the No. 8 seed in the Midwest Regional and will be matched up with No. 9 seed Oklahoma State in the first round. No. 1 seed and first & second round host Mississippi State will face No. 16 Nicholls at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
'Cuse is paced by Australian sensation Tiana Mangakahia. The sophomore guard leads the team in points (17.8) and assists (9.9) per game. She is the team's best free throw shooter (.879) and has a team-best 14 double-doubles this season. She set the ACC single-season assists record this year and currently leads the country in assists (297) and assists per game.
Four of Syracuse's starters are averaging double figures in scoring with Miranda Drummond scoring 14.6 points per game and leading the team in rebounds with 6.5 per game. Gabrielle Cooper has 10.5 points per game and a team-leading 78 made 3-pointers while All-ACC Freshman Team selection Digna Strautmane is averaging 10.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. The Latvia native has a team-high 57 blocks this season.
Fellow freshman Amaya Finklea-Guity, and the final piece to 'Cuse's starting five, leads the team in field goal percentage (.500) and is averaging 6.7 points and 5.4 points in 24.5 minutes per game.
As a unit, Syracuse averages 73.6 points per game and has held opponents to 66 points per game. The team forces 17.5 turnovers per game and grabs 31.9 rebounds per game. With 292 made 3-pointers on the season, 'Cuse has held its opponents to 31.4 percent from downtown through its first 30 games.
Oklahoma State (20-10) is led by Loryn Goodwin who turns in 20.9 points and 5.4 assists per game. The matchup between her and Mangakahia should be a highlight for many to watch. Kaylee Jensen and Braxtin Miller contribute 18.6 and 11.8 points per game for the Cowgirls. OSU averages slightly higher numbers than 'Cuse with 78.9 points per game on 42.6 percent shooting from the field. The Cowgirls force 16.0 turnovers per game and commit 11.5 of their own.
Saturday's matchup marks the second time in as many years that 'Cuse has faced a Big12 Conference opponent in the first round. An additional mirror from last year, the Orange earned the No. 8 seed while Iowa State was the No. 9 seed. 'Cuse has won each of its last four NCAA Tournament First Round games.
Tip-off is slated for 3:30 pm inside Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Miss. Fans that would like to purchase tickets can call the Carrier Dome box office at 888-DOME-TIX during regular business hours (M-F 8:30 - 4:30).
Humphrey Coliseum has a strict clear bag policy that will be enforced during the first and second round games this weekend. For more on the clear bag policy, click here.
For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /SyracuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram, and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
Do not miss the chance to join the women's basketball team in Starkville. Fans may order by calling the Carrier Dome box office at 888-DOME-TIX during regular business hours (M-F 8:30 - 4:30).
Syracuse (22-8) enters Saturday with over two weeks of rest following a second-round exit in the 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament by way of an 85-70 loss to Virginia Tech. With rest comes preparation as 'Cuse has taken the time to prepare mentally and physically for the task at hand, another NCAA Tournament run.
The Orange earned the No. 8 seed in the Midwest Regional and will be matched up with No. 9 seed Oklahoma State in the first round. No. 1 seed and first & second round host Mississippi State will face No. 16 Nicholls at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
'Cuse is paced by Australian sensation Tiana Mangakahia. The sophomore guard leads the team in points (17.8) and assists (9.9) per game. She is the team's best free throw shooter (.879) and has a team-best 14 double-doubles this season. She set the ACC single-season assists record this year and currently leads the country in assists (297) and assists per game.
Four of Syracuse's starters are averaging double figures in scoring with Miranda Drummond scoring 14.6 points per game and leading the team in rebounds with 6.5 per game. Gabrielle Cooper has 10.5 points per game and a team-leading 78 made 3-pointers while All-ACC Freshman Team selection Digna Strautmane is averaging 10.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. The Latvia native has a team-high 57 blocks this season.
Fellow freshman Amaya Finklea-Guity, and the final piece to 'Cuse's starting five, leads the team in field goal percentage (.500) and is averaging 6.7 points and 5.4 points in 24.5 minutes per game.
As a unit, Syracuse averages 73.6 points per game and has held opponents to 66 points per game. The team forces 17.5 turnovers per game and grabs 31.9 rebounds per game. With 292 made 3-pointers on the season, 'Cuse has held its opponents to 31.4 percent from downtown through its first 30 games.
Oklahoma State (20-10) is led by Loryn Goodwin who turns in 20.9 points and 5.4 assists per game. The matchup between her and Mangakahia should be a highlight for many to watch. Kaylee Jensen and Braxtin Miller contribute 18.6 and 11.8 points per game for the Cowgirls. OSU averages slightly higher numbers than 'Cuse with 78.9 points per game on 42.6 percent shooting from the field. The Cowgirls force 16.0 turnovers per game and commit 11.5 of their own.
Saturday's matchup marks the second time in as many years that 'Cuse has faced a Big12 Conference opponent in the first round. An additional mirror from last year, the Orange earned the No. 8 seed while Iowa State was the No. 9 seed. 'Cuse has won each of its last four NCAA Tournament First Round games.
Tip-off is slated for 3:30 pm inside Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Miss. Fans that would like to purchase tickets can call the Carrier Dome box office at 888-DOME-TIX during regular business hours (M-F 8:30 - 4:30).
Humphrey Coliseum has a strict clear bag policy that will be enforced during the first and second round games this weekend. For more on the clear bag policy, click here.
For the latest news on the Syracuse women's basketball program, follow /SyracuseWBB on Facebook, @CuseWBB on Instagram, and @CuseWBB on Twitter.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballTiana Mangakahia 1995-2025
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