Syracuse basketball rises to Senior Day spectacular with 77-68 win

SU holds on in final quarter against Miami with five players in double-digit points.

Story by Holden Sherman / Photos by Diana Valdivia

Published: February 20, 2023

Dyaisha Fair (2) goes up for a basket attempt against University of Miami Sunday afternoon.

There were two pivotal games this week for Syracuse basketball. While the men’s team suffered a humiliating loss Saturday to Duke that caused many fans to not even stay until the final buzzer, SU women’s basketball rose to the occasion on Senior Day for one last time this season at the JMA Wireless Dome, defeating Miami 77-68.

“I felt appreciated. I know all my teammates love me, and I love them. I’m gonna stay in contact with everybody when I graduate and go off, but it’s just memories that I’m gonna hold on (to) forever,” senior Asia Strong said.

Before the emotions were high postgame with a wonderful presentation for all the seniors, the team took care of business on the court to make Sunday even sweeter.

The Orange (17-11) got off to a hot start, especially behind the arc. Strong made three 3-pointers in the first quarter after missing Thursday’s contest against Florida State. Freshman Kennedi Perkins surpassed her career-high in the first half with 11 points on a super efficient rate. Senior Alaina Rice knocked down a few triples.

Leading at half 37-28, Syracuse maintained a comfortable lead. But in their last 10 games heading into Sunday no second half lead has been safe for them as they were outscored 383-340 in the second half. SU has already lost six games in 2023 where they held a lead in the second half.

Sunday, however, they were determined to not make it seven.

📺 Watch the highlights from today’s win over Miami pic.twitter.com/3t2SE3KWs3

— ‘Cuse Hoops (@CuseWBB) February 19, 2023

Syracuse came out in the second half with blistering energy, Rice had a reverse baseline layup and a steal by sophomore Georgia Woolley led to a transition basket for her on the other end, causing Miami head coach Katie Meier to call a timeout less than 100 seconds into the frame. SU’s lead was as much as 16 points.

Senior Dyaisha Fair got it going after a quiet first half, scoring 10 points in the second to leave her with 14 for the contest, extending her streak with double-digit points to a whopping 32 games. This scoring streak dates back to last season when she played for Buffalo.

By the end of three quarters, Syracuse’s lead remained the same as it was after the first half, up by nine with 10 minutes left to go. In all but one of the team’s 22 points in the third, Woolley, Fair or Rice either scored or assisted on. For the game, the three of them combined for more than half of the team’s points (39), all topping double-digits.

In total, five SU players scored in the double-digits with Perkins (13) and Strong (10) adding to Woolley, Fair and Rice’s contributions.

Miami (17-10) tried to break the Orange to start the fourth quarter. The Hurricanes pestered the team on the perimeter and pressed them on defense, and got to the line on three different occasions in the first 2:17 in the quarter on offense. But Syracuse stayed feisty, eventually ballooning their lead to 14 after it was cut to six at one point in the final frame.

When the clock struck zero, the team had their largest margin of victory in almost a month, a sweet way to end their time playing at the Dome this year.

“I wouldn’t want to play us right now,” SU head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. “The light is not flickering anymore.”

With one more game left on their regular season schedule, Syracuse is heading in the right direction going into the ACC Tournament to possibly help them get back into the Big Dance come next month after missing it a year ago. SU travels to play Pittsburgh (10-17) on Thursday at 6 p.m.