Fantasia Goodwin and Nicole Michael didn’t take long to assert themselves as the offensive threats for the Syracuse women’s basketball team. Goodwin, a junior transfer, and Michael, a freshman, both scored 21 points Wednesday night but Athletes in Action defeated the Orange, 87-78, at Manley Field House in an exhibition game.

Syracuse utilized its fast-paced offense to start the game with a flurry. The Orange dominated much of the first half, opening up a 10-point lead with 8:00 remaining. But a 19-5 AIA run to close the half gave the visitors a 43-38 lead heading into the half; it would not relinquish the lead for the rest of the game.

Michael helped spark the Orange to the early run, scoring seven points in the first six minutes. The freshman looked out of control at times in her first exhibition game Friday, but drove confidently to the basket throughout the game on Wednesday.

‘I was more nervous the first game because that was my first college game so I didn’t really know what to expect,’ Michael said. ‘I had more confidence this game.’

Michael’s fast start ended abruptly with 12:45 remaining in the half when she jumped in the air for a rebound and came down awkwardly on her ankle. She popped up from the floor quickly but limped off the court. After having the ankle taped, Michael returned to the court after missing four minutes, but did not score another point until five minutes into the second half.

After not scoring for the first 17 minutes, AIA’s Cori Williston caught fire in the final minutes of the half. The 2004 graduate of Oral Roberts scored the last eight points of the half, making two three-pointers and a runner without missing a shot.

Goodwin said fatigue played a factor in the Orange’s poor performance going into the locker room.

‘It seemed like we got a little winded,’ Goodwin said. ‘We didn’t know where our man was and we got a little confused out there. We got lost.’

Hillsman was not using the fatigue as an excuse after the game. He said the team’s goal is to allow 60 points or fewer in every game, but Athletes in Action scored 27 points more than that mark.

‘Fatigue is going to be a factor regardless because of our numbers,’ Hillsman said. ‘We’re going to be tired, but I don’t think we can just stand back and let people run it and attack us.’

Michael finally regained her comfort zone in the final seven minutes of the game, scoring 10 points and serving as the main offensive weapon for the Orange down the stretch.

While Michael scored at will, the team’s usual offensive threat, Vaida Sipaviciute, struggled from the field, going 4-14 with just eight points. She said the pressure of being the team’s leading offensive weapon has been affecting her and teams are focusing their defenses on shutting her down. But Sipaviciute said that just opened the floor for Michael to have a great game.

‘Looking at last year I believe people look at my stats and say, ‘Oh she’s a scorer so we’re going to double her in the post,” Sipaviciute said. ‘At the same time, we have Fantasia and Nicole shooting from the outside so it takes pressure off me. I just need to make my lay-ups.’

Hillsman was not concerned with Sipaviciute’s performance because the rest of the team made up for her lack of offense. Michael, Goodwin and junior Mary Joe Riley scored in double figures, helping the Orange fall just short of 80 points for the game.

SU’s new head coach was pleased with the way Michael and Goodwin stepped up with Sipaviciute struggling, but did not think his team would need that kind of performance all the time.

‘Vaida is not going to be that way every night,’ Hillsman said. ‘After the game I talked to Vaida and she wants to perform so well. She really knows she has a lot of weight on her shoulders. When she’s not getting that done every night it starts to get to her a little.’

Published on November 8, 2006 at 12:00 pm