Syracuse women’s basketball moves to 2-0 in a triple-digit win
Syracuse women’s hoops dominate in triple-digit win
The Orange’s defensive switch seals the game despite news of Dominique Camp missing the season.
Syracuse women’s basketball moved to 2-0 with a win over Central Connecticut State. However, the win came with some disappointing news for the Orange.
Already missing junior guard Georgia Woolley as she recovers from injury, graduate guard Dominique Camp announced she would be out for the season with a knee injury on social media before tip-off.
Despite the injury, the Orange took care of business on the court, beating the Blue Devils 101-53 in a game that highlighted the team’s defensive versatility and strength off the bench.
“Of course, we would like to have [Camp] up there with us but seeing the younger guards underneath do what they do, have confidence, just be able to manage the team and manage the moment is good,” graduate guard Dyaisha Fair said.
The Orange started slow, with neither team managing to open the scoring. Freshman guard Sophie Burrows and Meghan Kenefick traded threes as both teams were locked with six minutes to play in the first quarter. Still, the Orange grabbed hold of the game, stringing together a couple of scoring runs fueled by strong transition play from Burrows and Fair.
Although the home side maintained the lead, the Blue Devils tried to claw their way back into the quarter, hitting threes and catching the Orange exposed with wide-open layups in the paint.
The first quarter ended 26-15, courtesy of Fair’s 14 points, more than the rest of the team combined.
Early into the second quarter, Kenefick played a pass into an unguarded Kayla Henry right in front of the Orange’s basket. Moments later, Kenefick sank a shot from the bottom three-point line, completely uncontested.
The home side never looked like it would lose this game, but after a few defensive hiccups like those in the first half, head coach Felisha Legette-Jack switched her defense.
“We’re going to look at this film and realize that we were trying to swat at things, and they catch us swatting at things and they get the ball to the person that is wide open,” said Legette-Jack. “We’ll get better.”
The first half ended 48-27. The Orange offense, led by Fair’s 22 points, outplayed its opponent, going 59.4% from the field. The Orange transitioned efficiently from a defense that made five blocks and seven steals, scoring 13 points off the fast breaks.
The Orange attack clicked in the third quarter. The home side’s tighter defense generated a 15-4 run before CCSU called a timeout. Following the timeout, Belle Lanpher’s best efforts put points back on the board for the Blue Devils, but the defense and a 75% scoring rate from the field saw the Orange side widen its lead to 82-45.
“I feel like in the second half, we were just flying around and really helping each other. We had each other’s back in our defense,” Burrows said.
The Orange went on to hit triple digits in the fourth quarter, where Alyssa Latham earned her second consecutive double-double, and ultimately the Orange improved to 2-0. The Orange ended the game with 68 points in the paint.
Fair led the way for SU with 28 points and three assists, while Latham’s 11-point 11-rebound triple-double and graduate guard Alaina Rice‘s five assists and four steals rounded out the game.
The Orange bench also stood out. Notably, junior forward Kyra Wood was key in the win with 15 points and 5 rebounds.
“We don’t have a bench, we have eight or nine players who are going to play,” Legette-Jack said. “Most teams got seven players they’re playing with and we’re flirting with nine already. Kyra [Wood] is a starter.”
The Orange next play on Wednesday against Coppin State at the Dome. Tip-off is scheduled at 7 p.m.
is a reporter for The NewsHouse.
is a photographer for the Infodemic project.