Orange, Pitt Faceoff Thursday at 6PM

The Syracuse Orange (19-5, 9-4 ACC) travel to the Petersen Events Center on Thursday night to face Pittsburgh (8-17, 1-11 ACC) at 6 p.m. ET on ACCNX, seeking their 28th consecutive victory in the storied series. The Orange haven't lost to the Panthers since February 2, 2010, and lead the all-time series 54-19.

Syracuse is 5-1 on the road in ACC play this season. Uche Izoje continues her remarkable season, averaging 14.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and a league-leading 2.7 blocks per game. Izoje has collected six ACC Rookie of the Week honors and boasts 10 double-doubles, establishing herself as a legitimate ACC Rookie of the Year candidate.

The Orange's balanced attack features also graduate student Dominique Darius (13.3 ppg) and senior Laila Phelia (14.0 ppg), who delivered a spectacular 38-point performance at Virginia last month. Syracuse's defensive intensity has been their calling card, leading the ACC in turnovers forced (20.1 per game) and ranking sixth nationally in offensive rebounds (17.3 per game). Sophie Burrows is fresh off a career-high six steals in Syracuse's last outing vs. #6 Louisville last Sunday.

Pittsburgh is struggling through a difficult season under third-year head coach Tory Verdi. The Panthers have lost eight straight games and sit at the bottom of the ACC standings.

A Syracuse victory would improve the Orange to 20-5 overall and 10-4 in conference play, marking their second season with 10 ACC wins under Felisha Legette-Jack. The Orange currently sit fifth in the ACC standings and hold the No. 37 NET ranking as they continue building their NCAA Tournament resume. With momentum on their side and ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme projecting them as a 9-seed, Syracuse looks to take care of business in Pittsburgh.

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