Syracuse dominates Pitt to secure spot in ACC tournament
Syracuse dominates Pitt to secure spot in ACC tournament
Australian duo Woolley and Burrows combine for 46 points as Orange push toward postseason.
Syracuse’s defense set the tone early, establishing an advantage that Pittsburgh could not overcome. The Orange secured a crucial 83-65 victory on Thursday night, snapping a four-game losing streak and moving one step closer to an ACC tournament berth.
“It’s simple. We don’t want to be done yet,” Syracuse head coach Felisha Legette-Jack said.
The Orange applied defensive pressure from the start, forcing three turnovers in the first four possessions. The Panthers struggled offensively, shooting just 17% from the field in the first quarter. While Syracuse wasn’t much better at 35%, it still doubled Pitt’s efficiency.
Pitt’s shooting woes continued in the second quarter, improving only slightly to 22% midway through the period. Meanwhile, back-to-back baskets from center Izabel Varejão ignited the Syracuse offense, which found its rhythm and shot 54% midway through the quarter. The Orange extended their lead to 20 points and scored with ease.
With about three minutes left in the half, sophomore guard Sophie Burrows left the game due to an injury. She had contributed seven points and three rebounds before heading to the locker room. Syracuse felt her absence as their offense stalled, allowing Pitt to cut the deficit to single digits by halftime.
The Orange held a 38-29 lead at the break.
The third quarter started slowly for Syracuse until Varejão provided another spark. The graduate student made a diving effort into the second row to save a loose ball. Although Syracuse lost possession, the hustle play energized the team, which responded with an 8-2 run.
“I thought Iza (Izabel) was huge today,” Legette-Jack said. “Her ability to shoot the ball creates opportunities for us.”
Varejão finished with six points, six rebounds, and one assist, but her impact extended beyond the stat sheet.
Despite Syracuse’s strong play, Pitt refused to back down. The Panthers pulled within five points early in the fourth quarter, thanks mainly to center Kadja Faye, who recorded a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Syracuse regained control in the final minutes, outscoring Pitt 29-17 in the fourth quarter. Senior Kyra Wood ignited the late surge with a key steal and finished with 14 points, shooting an efficient 7-of-8 from the field.
“I jumped on Kyra early in the game because I thought she was turning the ball over too much,” Legette-Jack said. “I got in her face a bit, and she understood the assignment and rose to the occasion.”
The fourth-quarter takeover was fueled by Australian natives Burrows and Georgia Woolley, who combined for 21 of Syracuse’s 29 fourth-quarter points. Despite missing time with an injury, Burrows logged a team-high 21 points and three assists. Woolley added 25 points and nine assists, leading the Orange in both categories.
For Pitt, the loss puts them in a must-win situation Sunday against Wake Forest. The Panthers’ postseason hopes now depend on favorable results from other teams. Regardless, this season marks Pitt’s best campaign in eight years.
With their 27th straight win over Pitt, Syracuse clinched a spot in the ACC tournament. The Orange own the tiebreakers over both the Panthers and Miami, which means, at worse, they will be the 14th seed in the bracket. The Orange face Boston College (14-5, 5-11) at home to close out the season on March 2.