Tough Week for Syracuse Women’s Basketball
By Kiran Costa | @Costa_Kiran
Syracuse Women’s Basketball struggled this week, dropping both non-conference games to Saint Joseph’s and #11 Maryland. The defense has been a pressing problem throughout the first handful of games. Syracuse’s first three opponents scored 84 points. The highest point total SU allowed during the 2023-24 was just 83, a two-point loss to Maryland last November.
Saint Joseph’s
The Orange had not lost a non-conference game at home entering Sunday’s bout with SJU, but the Hawks played spoiler 84-70. The ‘Cuse led after the first quarter but the Hawks unloaded a three-point barrage. The senior duo of Talya Brugler and Mackenzie Smith hit five triples apiece and both finished the afternoon over the 20-point threshold. The Orange were not lacking in three-point shooting either; Sophie Burrows shot a perfect 4-4 from downtown with Georgia Woolley adding 19 points of her own. This was a wakeup call for many Syracuse fans, a team that was dominant last season was usually on the other side of the upsets during the 2023 season.
#11 Maryland
The Orange fell 84-73 to the No. 11 Terrapins on Wednesday. Similar to the game with Saint Joe’s the ‘Cuse came out firing leading after the first quarter. But yet again the second frame spelled trouble for Head Coach Felisha Legette-Jack, UMD outscored SU by 17 points in the second quarter including a 15-0 run. The Orange battled back, staying within shouting distance all night, and eventually getting within two possessions with under two minutes to play. But costly turnovers, foul trouble, and missed layups plagued SU. Izabel Varejão picked up her fourth foul early in the second half and was limited in the final two quarters. Maryland capitalized on the lack of size down low, as Kaylene Smikle had 22 points and was a perfect 10-10 from the line. The Terps were clinical from the charity stripe, going 20-24 from the line. Despite the loss, this game showed massive improvement from the Orange. They played Maryland like a tournament team and hung around with one of the top squads in the country.
Next Up
It’s another busy week for Syracuse Women’s Basketball as it hosts Farleigh Dickinson on Sunday and UAlbany on Wednesday. The Knights are a perfect 4-0 on the season, their first such start since 1991-92, a year they won the Northeast Conference title. FDU is coming off a victory over Bucknell, where it was very starter-dominant. The starting five scored 63 of the team’s 67 points in the win
Key to Victory
Defend, defend, defend. The Knights have yet to break the 80-point mark offensively this season, the Orange have not held a team under that mark. SU needs its bigs to step up, specifically Izabel Varejão. Coach FLJ has seen the offensive production from her captains, Kyra Wood, Georgia Woolley, and Sophie Burrows. The young players have also contributed big minutes on the offense end. If the Orange holds FDU under 80 they will win.
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