Full-team effort leads SU women’s basketball to win
Full-team effort leads SU women’s basketball to win
Ten Orange players scored during their 80-47 win over Coppin State.
Syracuse women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack meant it when she said “it’s our family against their team.”
Ten Orange players were able to score during their 80-47 win over Coppin State on Wednesday night. Freshman center Marilena Triantafylli earned her first pair of collegiate points.
All-ACC recognized guard for the Orange, graduate Dyaisha Fair, did not take her usual spot in the starting line up due to a coach’s decision. Fair’s absence pushed Syracuse into post play and graduate center Izabel Varejão stepped up to the occasion.
At the end of the first quarter, Varejão had seven points, dominating in the paint and creating second chance opportunities for herself, the Brazilian finished with a career high 13 points.
Varejão said she attributes her impressive game to a change in her mentality.
“I feel like I called for the ball more and found the ball a little bit more than I had been in the last couple of games,” said Varejão. “So, I feel like that made a big difference … just demanding and just attacking more.”
Alongside the fresh faces of the Orange squad, leading the energy of the team was graduate guard Alaina Rice. Rice, the longest tenured player on the team who came off the bench last season, proved why she should have a starting position.
Rice ended the night with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals, shooting 54% from the field.
“I feel like I’m just having fun,” said Rice. “ I really enjoyed the game. When I’m out there, and I’m having fun with it, it makes it easier.”
Defensively, the Orange put up a strong front, a component of the game the coaches have tried to drive in for the women.
“The coaches have been really pushing the defensive side of things… we still have a lot of work to do on that end but I think we’re definitely improving over the last few games,” said freshman guard Sophie Burrows.
Syracuse played man-to-man defense, utilizing the two-three zone Legette-Jack said she will carry on from Boeheim. Syracuse defenders pressed hard on the Coppin State ball handlers, causing turnovers and capitalizing on fast break opportunities. SU scored 10 fast break points within just the first half.
The night was a homecoming for one Coppin State member, Faith Blackstone, who began her freshman year with the Orange before transferring to two other schools and landing in Baltimore.
Blackstone had some vengeance on the court, leading the Eagles offensively with 19 points, on 4-of-7 shooting from three.
Legette-Jack, who has a good relationship with Coppin State head coach Jermaine Woods, said the Eagles put up a good fight, they just need some more help.
“I really value him as a coach, I actually talked to him about maybe joining our family, if I ever got an opportunity to the next level,” said Legette-Jack. “I just think that he’s a really good coach, I think that he needs some more bodies on his team to help.”
Syracuse will play their first ranked opponent, No.20 Maryland, on Sunday. The Orange women have said it will be the first real test to their game.
is a sports reporter for The NewsHouse.
is a photographer for the Infodemic project.