Cornell vs. Syracuse
Tip Off: Friday, Nov. 16, 2012; 5:30 p.m.
Location: Newman Arena (Ithaca, N.Y.)
Records: Cornell (2-1, 0-0 Ivy); Syracuse (2-0, 0-0 Big East)
Series Record: Syracuse, 13-4
Last Meeting: Syracuse won 86-45 (11/15/10)
Live Stats: CornellBigRed.com
Live Audio: RLMSports.net
Video Webcast: CornellBigRed.com

Binghamton/Syracuse Game Notes (PDF)

THE MATCHUP: After a thrilling comeback victory over instate rival Binghamton, the Big Red will look to carry that momentum into this evening's contest and attempt to give head coach Dayna Smith her 100th career victory as it plays host to Syracuse in the first game of a double-header. With the victory over the Bearcats, its first win in the series since the 2007-08 campaign, Cornell improved to 2-1 on the season. The Orange is off to a 2-0 start after defeating Farleigh Dickinson and Maine to open the season.

THE SERIES VS. SYRACUSE — Cornell's rivalry with Syracuse is one of the oldest in the history of the women's basketball program. The series began during the 1972-73 season, just the second year of women's basketball for both schools, with a 64-24 Big Red victory. Cornell would win the next two meetings as well, giving the Big Red its longest winning-streak (three games) against the Orange. Syracuse would win the next nine meetings, a streak which was halted during the 2003-04 campaign when Cornell defeated the Orange 82-62. Syracuse has won the last three meetings to improve its lead in the series to 13-4.

SCOUTING THE ORANGE (courtesy SUAthletics.com): Syracuse was picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST in the annual women's basketball preseason coaches' poll, and senior center Kayla Alexander was named to the preseason All-BIG EAST team. Coming off a 22-15 season in which it went 6-10 in conference play, the Orange returns four starters and welcomes a five-member freshmen class ranked sixth-best in the country by ESPN Hoopgurlz. Alexander was named to the conference's second team last season, was a first-teamer as a sophomore in 2010-11 and was named All-Rookie in 2010-11. The Milton, Ontario native led the conference in blocks in 2011-12, setting a Syracuse single-season record with 96, while ranking 10th in scoring (14.8 ppg), ninth in rebounding (7.5 rpg), 14th in field goal percentage (.495) and 12th in free throw percentage (.747).

CORNELL VS. THE BIG EAST — Cornell is 4-24 all-time vs. the current members of the Big East Conference, with all four wins coming against Syracuse. The Big Red holds a losing record vs. Cincinnati (0-1), Connecticut (0-1), DePaul (0-2), Georgetown (0-2), St. John's (0-2), South Florida (0-1), Villanova (0-1) and West Virginia (0-1). Cornell has only faced three Big East schools other than Syracuse more than once (DePaul, Georgetown, and St. John's) and has never faced Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rutgers or Seton Hall in women's basketball ... Coach Smith is 1-10 vs. the conference during her time at the helm of the Big Red program, with the lone victory coming against Syracuse, 82-62, during the 2003-04 season.

A CORNELL WIN OVER SYRACUSE WOULD:
• give head coach Dayna Smith her 100th career victory.
• improve the Big Red's record to 3-1.
• snap a three game skid against the Orange.
• cut Syracuse's lead to 13-5 in the all-time series.
• end an eight-game losing streak to Big East teams, dating back to an 82-62 victory over Syracuse during the 2003-04 season.
• improve Coach Smith to 2-10 against the Big East.

SEEKING 100 WINS: Head Coach Dayna Smith is already the winningest coach in Cornell history, but she is seeking another milestone, as her next win will be her 100th victory as a head coach.

FOR OPENERS: The Big Red is 18-24 all-time in season openers. Coach Dayna Smith improved her record to 2-9 in season openers after defeating Colgate, 69-65 on Nov. 11, 2012. It was the first season-opening victory since the 2004-05 campaign.

BEATING THE BEARCATS: Cornell snapped a four-game skid to Binghamton on Wednesday evening when it defeated the Bearcats, 60-56. The game was a thrilling one with the Big Red building a big lead early on, losing that lead late in the contest, and then coming back with three minutes to play to earn the win.

CLOSE CALLS: Since the beginning of the 2010-11 season, the Big Red has had 23-of-59 games (39%) decided by eight points or fewer. In those games, Cornell has posted a 12-11 record, including a mark of 2-1 this year.

BLOCKS A LOT: Senior Clare Fitzpatrick currently sits in 10th place in Cornell history for career blocks (52), having surpassed classmate Kristina Danielak earlier this season, who is now sitting in 11th place with 49 blocks.

I'LL TAKE THAT: So far this season, Cornell has averaged 8.7 steals per game, up slightly from last year when the Big Red averaged 8.4 steals per game. Last season's total was the best team average since the 2001-02 team finished the year with 11.0 steals per game.

RACE TO 1,000/500: Senior Clare Fitzpatrick is aiming to become the seventh player in Cornell history and second ever under head coach Dayna Smith to register at least 1,000 points and 500 rebounds for her career. She currently has 901 points and 481 rebounds.

STARTING STREAK: Junior Allyson DiMagno has a 54-game starting streak, which is by far the longest current active streak on the team, with senior Spencer Lane's 33-game streak coming in second.

LOW PERCENTAGE SHOTS: So far this season, Cornell has held all three of its opponents to below 40 percent shooting from the floor. The Big Red closed the 2011-12 season by holding its opponents to 40 percent or below from the floor in 12 of its final 18 games.

UP NEXT: Cornell will welcome Manhattan College to Newman Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 20 for a contest at 7:00 p.m.