The Daily OrangeFORWARD PROGESS: SU's Michael scores career-high 36 in win over Binghamton
By Brett LoGiurato
Posted: 11/22/09, 6:27 PM EST Section: Sports
Nicole Michael already had secured a few Werther's Originals, her favorite candy, by halftime Sunday. With 26 points and 12 rebounds at the break, Michael had won a longstanding bet with Syracuse women's basketball assistant coach Rick Moody.
"Coach Moody makes sure I rebound," Michael said. "We have a bet if I get over 10 rebounds, he gives me candy. So I am just going to keep rebounding and crashing the boards, because I like candy."
But, candy already intact, she didn't stop at halftime. Michael, a senior forward, exploded for a career-high 36 points and matched a career-best 17 rebounds, leading the Orange to an 87-74 win over Binghamton Sunday in front of 804 fans at the Carrier Dome. Her previous career highs in points and rebounds had come when she was a freshman in the 2006-07 season.
Syracuse (4-0) is off to its best start since the 2004-05 season, when it also won its first four contests.
Michael demolished her career-high of three 3-pointers made in a single game. She went off from beyond the arc, hitting 8-of-12 threes.
"I'm always comfortable shooting threes because I'm confident," Michael said. "I worked on that all summer. I'm going to take it every time if I'm open."
Michael was part of an SU offensive outburst that came just three days removed from its worst offensive showing of the season, when it shot only 30 percent from the field. With Michael leading the way, the Orange shot 51.5 percent from the field, including 45 percent on 3-pointers.
"Just a phenomenal game," SU head coach Quentin Hillsman said of Michael's performance. "It was one of the best performances I've seen in women's basketball. She made some when they were flying at her and when she was uncontested, and overall, she just played a monster, monster game."
Michael got the Orange off to a quick start. She scored 10 of her team's first 16 points, including two 3-pointers in the first five minutes of action, getting the team out to a 16-7 early advantage.
"Coach Moody makes sure I rebound," Michael said. "We have a bet if I get over 10 rebounds, he gives me candy. So I am just going to keep rebounding and crashing the boards, because I like candy."
But, candy already intact, she didn't stop at halftime. Michael, a senior forward, exploded for a career-high 36 points and matched a career-best 17 rebounds, leading the Orange to an 87-74 win over Binghamton Sunday in front of 804 fans at the Carrier Dome. Her previous career highs in points and rebounds had come when she was a freshman in the 2006-07 season.
Syracuse (4-0) is off to its best start since the 2004-05 season, when it also won its first four contests.
Michael demolished her career-high of three 3-pointers made in a single game. She went off from beyond the arc, hitting 8-of-12 threes.
"I'm always comfortable shooting threes because I'm confident," Michael said. "I worked on that all summer. I'm going to take it every time if I'm open."
Michael was part of an SU offensive outburst that came just three days removed from its worst offensive showing of the season, when it shot only 30 percent from the field. With Michael leading the way, the Orange shot 51.5 percent from the field, including 45 percent on 3-pointers.
"Just a phenomenal game," SU head coach Quentin Hillsman said of Michael's performance. "It was one of the best performances I've seen in women's basketball. She made some when they were flying at her and when she was uncontested, and overall, she just played a monster, monster game."
Michael got the Orange off to a quick start. She scored 10 of her team's first 16 points, including two 3-pointers in the first five minutes of action, getting the team out to a 16-7 early advantage.
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