The SU Women's Basketball Team is heading to the Bahamas next week to take on two tough teams in Clemson and Baylor, but Saturday's team is definitely not one they can look past. The 8-and-0 Orange will host # 6 Ohio State on Saturday at 1 PM, their first big test. Click on the video tab to see how important this is to the team. The following preview is from the Ohio State Buckeye's website.
#6/6 Ohio State (7-0) at Syracuse (7-0) Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010 - 1 p.m. ET Carrier Dome Syracuse, N.Y.
The Broadcasts TV: Time Warner Sports in Syracuse and SNY Radio: The Fan 1460 AM (Marty Bannister, Kristin Watt) Listen for FREE at www.OhioStateBuckeyes.com FASTBREAK POINTS • At 7-0, the Buckeyes are looking to tie for their best start to a season under Jim Foster after starting 8-0 last season. The program's best start (since the start of NCAA play in 1982-83) is 10-0 set during the 2000-01 season • The Buckeyes are ranked No. 6 in both the USA Today/Coaches and Associated Press polls and currently have an RPI ranking of No. 1 according to Realtimerpi.com as of Dec. 7 • Head coach Jim Foster coached his 1,000th career game Sunday vs. No. 11 Oklahoma • Senior Jantel Lavender leads the Big Ten and ranks third nationally with 25.7 points per game • Lavender already holds OSU records for field goals (900) and rebounds (1,125) in a career • Lavender has scored 10+ points in all 109 career games, the longest active streak in Division I • Samantha Prahalis became just the third Ohio State player to record at least 1,000 points and 500 assists in the win over Oklahoma • Prahalis is averaging 10.5 assists per game. She recorded a career-high 15 in the win over No. 11 Oklahoma. She also is fourth in the Big Ten with 17.7 ppg
Scouting Syracuse
Like the Buckeyes, the Orange are 7-0 on the season and are coming off a 69-38 win over Albany on Dec. 6. They average 80.6 points per game, including one 90-point game in a 90-36 win over Long Island. They finished last season 25-11 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the WNIT. This season Syracuse ranks No. 1 in the NCAA in fewest points allowed (43.8 ppg), FG percentage defense (.280) and rebounding margin (+20.0). They also rank third in scoring margin (+38.7) and fourth with 15.0 steals per game. Individually, the Orange are led by sophomore center Kayla Alexander who is averaging 16.0 ppg and 8.7 rebounds. Guard Carmen Tyson-Thomas is the second-leading scorer at 11.0 ppg coming off the bench. She also averages 8.7 boards per contest. Quentin Hillsman is in his fifth season as head coach. The 2007-08 BIG EAST Coach of the Year has led the Orange to three consecutive postseason appearances, including the quarterfinals of the postseason WNIT in 2010.
