The View - Syracuse Womens Sports Round-Up, Week Of January 9th

GREETINGS!

"The View" (please feel free to recommend a better name) will be a weekly article on TNIAAM, recapping the week in women's sports. In case you haven't noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven't, the Orange women's teams have become very successful in the past few years. It's about time we start paying attention to the accomplishments of these student ath-o-letes.

Women’s Basketball

CATCHING UP: The Orange finished the non-con schedule 11-3, including wins over Ohio and Xavier at the Duel in the Desert in Las Vegas. 2011 closed with home wins over Niagara and Colgate by a combined score of 164-62 (seriously).

LAST WEEK: The Orange traveled to #10 Rutgers on Tuesday for a nationally televised game (shame on you for not watching!) The game was tied at 36 with eight minutes remaining, but the Scarlet Knights took control, and won 55-44, as 27 turnovers doomed the Orange. Carmen Tyson-Thomas had her fifth double-double of the season to pace the Orange.

On Saturday, the women (12-5, 1-2) bounced back, notching their first Big East win with an 83-60 pasting at future-ACC foe, Pitt. Iasia Hemingway set a SU record by sinking 15 free throws, en route to a 33-point afternoon. As a team, the Orange were 34-38 from the line (why can't the men do that?)

THIS WEEK: St. John’s comes to the Dome on Wednesday, and the Orange travel to DC over the weekend, for a matchup with Georgetown. I wonder if GU has the same ticket policy for women's basketball games vs. SU as they do for the men?

Ice Hockey

CATCHING UP: The fourth-year program entered the week 8-11-1. Off-season transfers hurt the Orange, who finished 2010/11 at 14-16-6, and lost in the CHA conference championship game. Holly Carrie-Mattimoe is pacing the Orange this year with 9 goals.

LAST WEEK: The Orange opened the new year with a 5-0 loss at Colgate on Monday. CHA powerhouse, #5 ranked Mercyhurst visited Tennity for a pair of weekend games. The Lakers bested the Orange icers 8-4 on Friday, as. Shiann Darkangelo (what a name) scored her second goal of the season for the Orange.

On Saturday, the SU women ended a 15-game losing streak (0-15-0) to the Lakers, earning a 1-1 tie. Kallie Billadeau made 33 saves for the Orange, who were out-shot 34-15.

THIS WEEK: The Orange get a week off. Plenty of time to prepare for a January 17 rematch with Cornell at Tennity. Cornell, then ranked #2, humbled the Orange 9-2 in November in Ithaca.

Tennis

THIS WEEK: Luke's ladies open the season on Saturday in Tampa, with a match against South Florida.

Looking Ahead to Spring

SOFTBALL: The two-time defending Big East tournament champions open play on February 10, in Tempe, Arizona with games against Texas State and Cal State-Northridge. All told, the Orange will play 25 (yes, 25) road games before the home opener on March 23. Without a doubt, the pundits at ESPN will hold the schedule against the Orange, claiming games in Florida, Arizona, and Palm Springs are more of a "vacation" than true road game.

LACROSSE: Gary's gals open at home on February 21, against former BE/ future ACC foe, Boston College. Circle February 29 on your calendar as mighty Northwestern comes to the Dome.

Did You Know?

Fab Melo may hold the men's record for blocked shots in a game, but Martha Mogish holds the SU record, swatting away 16 Colgate shots on January 27, 1978.