Friday, December 20
Winter Park, Fla.
1:30 pm
Syracuse University
vs
Michigan State
Orange Face First of Four-Straight Top-25 Opponents Friday
12/19/2019 1:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
A pair of top-25 opponents await the Syracuse women's basketball team in Winter Park, Fla., this weekend. The Orange (5-4) face No. 19 Michigan State (7-2) in their first of two games at the Florida Sunshine Classic on Friday, Dec. 20 at 1:30 p.m. 'Cuse closes out non-conference play against No. 22 West Virginia (7-1) on Sunday, Dec. 22 at 1:30 p.m. Both games can be streamed online via FloHoops with the purchase of a subscription.
About the Orange
Syracuse snapped its first three-game losing streak since 2014 with a dominant 82-48 win over UMBC on Dec. 8. Since the victory at home, the Orange have had 12 days to rest and prepare for the final two non-conference games of the season. Kiara Lewis paces Syracuse with 15.1 points per game while Emily Engstler leads the team with 11.0 rebounds per game. Engstler's 9.3 defensive rebounds per game lead the nation and she is 18th in the country with five double doubles. Digna Strautmane enters the game off a season-high 17 points in the win over the Retrievers nearly two weeks ago where she hit a career-high five three-pointers.
Michigan State
The Spartans are 2-2 in games played away from the Breslin Center this season and are 3-2 in their last five games. Michigan State's two losses this season were to LSU at Junkanoo Jam and at No. 8 Florida State in the B1G/ACC Challenge on Dec. 5. Michigan State is sixth in the nation in steals per game (13.8), which leads the Big Ten Conference. The Spartans are led by Nia Clouden who averages 15.6 points per game and 26.7 minutes per game.
West Virginia
West Virginia is 7-1 this season and rides a three-game win streak into the Florida Sunshine Classic but will first face Michigan State on Saturday before meeting the Orange Sunday. The Mountaineers earned a 71-65 win at Mississippi State on Dec. 8 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. WVU's only loss of the season was in the first game of the Cancun Challenge where Creighton earned a seven-point win, 82-75. Kysre Gondrezick leads West Virginia with 16.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Tynice Martin also averages double figures in scoring with 14.0 points per game and has a team-best .833 free throw shooting percentage.
Inside the Matchups
Syracuse and Michigan State meet for the first time since 2016, when the Orange earned a 75-64 win over the then-ranked No. 22 Spartans. The all-time series is tied 1-1. This is the second time the two meet at the Florida Sunshine Classic as the then No. 18 Spartans earned an 89-76 win over Syracuse in Warden Arena.
The Orange and Mountaineers meet for the 24th time in program history on Sunday. West Virginia leads the series 14-9 but the series is tied 1-1 on a neutral court. The old BIG EAST rivals haven't played since Syracuse's final year in their old league, when West Virginia earned a 63-48 win in the BIG EAST Tournament on March 3, 2012.
The Florida Sunshine Classic
The Florida Sunshine Classic is a three-team round robin that each team will play the other two during the Dec. 20-22 weekend. The Orange have played in the annual showcase once before, going 0-2 in losses to then-ranked No. 9 Baylor and No. 18 Michigan State.
Fans can watch all of the games on Flo Hoops for a subscription fee or listen to Syracuse's games on 97.7 FM in Syracuse with Brian Higgins, the voice of Syracuse women's basketball, on the call.
Syracuse season tickets start at $75 and are available for sale by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) or at The Box Office at the Ensley Athletic Center, which will operate extended hours on Mondays, from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm, and will be open Tuesday through Friday, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, for purchasing tickets to all Dome events. Limited Premium Courtside seats are still available and can be purchased by contacting a sales representative at 1-888-DOME-TIX.
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To stay updated on the Syracuse Orange women's basketball team, follow @CuseWBB on Twitter and Instagram.
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About the Orange
Syracuse snapped its first three-game losing streak since 2014 with a dominant 82-48 win over UMBC on Dec. 8. Since the victory at home, the Orange have had 12 days to rest and prepare for the final two non-conference games of the season. Kiara Lewis paces Syracuse with 15.1 points per game while Emily Engstler leads the team with 11.0 rebounds per game. Engstler's 9.3 defensive rebounds per game lead the nation and she is 18th in the country with five double doubles. Digna Strautmane enters the game off a season-high 17 points in the win over the Retrievers nearly two weeks ago where she hit a career-high five three-pointers.
Michigan State
The Spartans are 2-2 in games played away from the Breslin Center this season and are 3-2 in their last five games. Michigan State's two losses this season were to LSU at Junkanoo Jam and at No. 8 Florida State in the B1G/ACC Challenge on Dec. 5. Michigan State is sixth in the nation in steals per game (13.8), which leads the Big Ten Conference. The Spartans are led by Nia Clouden who averages 15.6 points per game and 26.7 minutes per game.
West Virginia
West Virginia is 7-1 this season and rides a three-game win streak into the Florida Sunshine Classic but will first face Michigan State on Saturday before meeting the Orange Sunday. The Mountaineers earned a 71-65 win at Mississippi State on Dec. 8 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. WVU's only loss of the season was in the first game of the Cancun Challenge where Creighton earned a seven-point win, 82-75. Kysre Gondrezick leads West Virginia with 16.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Tynice Martin also averages double figures in scoring with 14.0 points per game and has a team-best .833 free throw shooting percentage.
Inside the Matchups
Syracuse and Michigan State meet for the first time since 2016, when the Orange earned a 75-64 win over the then-ranked No. 22 Spartans. The all-time series is tied 1-1. This is the second time the two meet at the Florida Sunshine Classic as the then No. 18 Spartans earned an 89-76 win over Syracuse in Warden Arena.
The Orange and Mountaineers meet for the 24th time in program history on Sunday. West Virginia leads the series 14-9 but the series is tied 1-1 on a neutral court. The old BIG EAST rivals haven't played since Syracuse's final year in their old league, when West Virginia earned a 63-48 win in the BIG EAST Tournament on March 3, 2012.
The Florida Sunshine Classic
The Florida Sunshine Classic is a three-team round robin that each team will play the other two during the Dec. 20-22 weekend. The Orange have played in the annual showcase once before, going 0-2 in losses to then-ranked No. 9 Baylor and No. 18 Michigan State.
Fans can watch all of the games on Flo Hoops for a subscription fee or listen to Syracuse's games on 97.7 FM in Syracuse with Brian Higgins, the voice of Syracuse women's basketball, on the call.
Syracuse season tickets start at $75 and are available for sale by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) or at The Box Office at the Ensley Athletic Center, which will operate extended hours on Mondays, from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm, and will be open Tuesday through Friday, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, for purchasing tickets to all Dome events. Limited Premium Courtside seats are still available and can be purchased by contacting a sales representative at 1-888-DOME-TIX.
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To stay updated on the Syracuse Orange women's basketball team, follow @CuseWBB on Twitter and Instagram.
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/ Women's Basketball
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