Preseason Takeaways for Syracuse Women’s Basketball
By Kiran Costa | @Costa_Kiran
It’s no easy task to replace the third-highest scorer in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history, but that’s exactly what Head Coach Felisha Legette-Jack has to do. Dyaisha Fair has moved on to bigger and better things and left SU to try and match a 22 points per game hole that she left behind. If SU’s 90-50 exhibition game win showed us anything, Coach FLJ can get production from almost any spot on the floor. 10 of the 11 players who touched the floor for the Orange connected for a field goal, and they had three in double figures. The win came without two of their projected starters, Georgia Woolley and Dominique Camp. Returner Kyra Wood showed out in the blowout exhibition game victory, she had a first-half double-double and finished tied for a team-high with 16 points. The third-year captain was aided by a couple of freshmen, Kiera Scott and Shy Hawkins both finished the day in double figures. The Orange dominated on both sides of the ball, LSU transfer Angelica Velez was all over the floor defensively, as she nabbed three steals. The guard also excelled as a facilitator, she led the team with six assists. Velez is expected to come off the bench for SU to start the season but could be a key to the second unit for the Orange. A familiar face was back in the Orange lineup, Izabel Varejão played 14 minutes after an injury-riddled 2023 campaign. The grad student showed flashes last season, scored seven points, and grabbed three boards while shooting 50% from the field in the victory. Coach Jack expects big things from the Brazilian center, comparing her to her uncle and former NBA champion Anderson Varejão.
Syracuse took care of the business in their lone tune-up before the start of the regular season, this Tuesday against Niagara in the JMA Wireless Dome. The Purple Eagles also won their exhibition contests, 82-41 over Roberts Wesleyan. Niagara finished last season 21-14 and made it to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) final. The squad’s leading scorer from last season, Aaliyah Parker, has returned to the program and could pose a threat to SU running the Purple Eagle offense. On the Orange side of the basketball, the first look will be at Georgia Woolley and Dominique Camp. Woolley had an outstanding junior season, finishing second behind Dyasiha Fair points. The question this season is can Woolley shine without her star backcourt mate to facilitate? Camp on the other hand missed all of last season after she suffered a torn ACL in preseason play. A standout at both Akron and Buffalo, Coach Jack is excited to see the guard healthy and back on the floor. The Orange as a team has a tall task to match the NCAA tournament appearance from last year. Syracuse came out of the gates firing last year taking all but one game in non-conference play. The path back to the NCAA tournament starts on Tuesday.
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