Syracuse dominates Niagara in season-opening blowout

Syracuse opened the season fresh off a second-round NCAA tournament exit to UConn. The Orange have high hopes for another solid year, but the loss of guard Dyashia Fair to the WNBA is a subtraction of about 22.3 points per game.

Niagara University looked to capitalize on a team lacking their leader from last year and featuring new faces in new roles, but for the first half, the Orange had it all together.

The Orange cruised to a dominant 108-84 win over the Purple Eagles, fueled by newcomers and a more spread-out style of offense.

Freshman Forward Keira Scott played a huge role for SU in the first half. She scored 10 points and six rebounds, leading the team in both totals. She would finish with 14.

However, their 47-32 halftime lead began to crumble as they entered the fourth. Syracuse’s lead was down to 73-63, and it fell to as low as nine in the third. Niagara’s full-court pressure seemed crushing to the offense for a short period.

“It’s a different kind of way they play. I don’t think we’ll see that the rest of the season,” Syracuse Women’s Basketball Head Coach Felisha Legette-Jack said. “They just kind of throw their bodies out in front, assault.”

The Cuse found their stride in the fourth and began to dominate the Purple Eagles. They outscored Niagara 35-21 in the fourth and found a dominant 24-point win.

Senior Georgia Woolley had a mere five points at halftime but found her groove in the final 20 minutes, finishing the game with 18 points overall. She attributed the success to her teammates.

“Kyra is that sort of person that I feel like centers the team,” Woolley said. “When there’s a lot of pressure, Kyra’s there.

Buffalo native Kyra Wood logged 19 points and was stout down low, with eight rebounds. The forward shot 75% of the field, proving a reliable option down low as the season progresses.

SU dominated the glass, outrebounding Niagara 45-28, but Coach Legette-Jack wanted more.

“Boards is what we do. To me, that’s not enough. Our goal was 20 offensive rebounds,” Coach Legette-Jack said. “We’re playing too safe.”

Next up, Syracuse will face Saint Joseph’s on Sunday.