SU hoops finds groove in 75-67 victory over UNC
SU hoops finds groove in 75-67 victory over UNC
When the No. 14 overall basketball team in the country comes to town, you better be on your A game. That’s exactly what the Syracuse Orange did against UNC on Thursday night, and then some.
But, the game wasn’t always smooth sailing for SU.
At the start of the game, it looked as though UNC might pull away when they had a 10-3 run. However, SU head coach Felisha Legette-Jack had other plans.
Pick it up. That was the message Legette-Jack had for her team at halftime.
That is precisely what her squad did. In the third quarter alone, the Orange had a season-high 31 points en route to a 75-67 victory over the Tar Heels.
A big reason for the SU win was the excellent defense they executed all game. Despite allowing Deja Kelly to score almost half of UNC’s points with 32 total, SU was able to neutralize the rest of her teammates for the most part, which put extra pressure on Kelly to perform.
Guard Georgia Woolley was among the key players for the Orange who stood out on the defensive end. She finished with one block and an impressive four steals.
Postgame, Woolley spoke to how SU could neutralize everyone except Kelly.
“I think we just walked into the rules of our defense, and it’s not necessarily about one person. It’s about us,” Woolley said. “So we play our game and our defense.”
Not only was Woolley impressive on the defensive end, but she also showed out offensively, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds and two assists. She shot an incredible 3-for-7 from the 3-point line.
Orange point guard Dyaisha Fair also impressed from the three, making four of her nine attempts including a 4-point play. Fair showcased her elite scoring ability as she has done all season finishing with 23 points, scoring in the double-digits in all 25 SU games.
While Fair might not be the tallest on the court at 5’5″, she has shown time and time again that she has elite scoring and playmaking ability that will translate to the WNBA.
Graduate student Dariauna Lewis anchored the paint all game for the Orange. Lewis recorded her tenth double-double of the season as she scored 14 points to go along with 15 rebounds. She also shot a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line contributing to the team’s nearly perfect night at the charity stripe going 12-for-13.
Lewis said tonight’s game was a breakout for her to show her potential in the ACC.
“I have not shown my full potential to the ACC and feel like it was time for me,” Lewis said. “I’m just trying to make the best of my experience and do what I can do to help the team.”
Legette-Jack referenced Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders as the presser concluded, saying two words, “We coming.”
This win marks Legette-Jack’s first win as head coach over a ranked opponent.
If tonight was any indication, the Orange have indeed found their groove and are in prime position to get to the tournament.
This SU win over a Top-15 team dramatically increases their chances of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. With that being said, the job still isn’t finished.
To further cement their ticket, the Orange will look to pull off an upset on Sunday as they travel to Indiana to face No. 10 Notre Dame at 4 p.m.
is a content editor for the Infodemic project.
is a contributor for The NewsHouse.
