Syracuse Women’s Basketball Closes Non-Conference Slate with Statement Win, Eyes ACC Play
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - On a day when the JMA Wireless Dome was buzzing with over 10,000 fans-many of them young students on School Day-the Syracuse women’s basketball team gave the crowd a performance worth skipping class for. The Orange didn’t just win; they overwhelmed Mercyhurst in a 106-40 rout that served as both a celebration and a warning shot to the rest of the ACC.
This wasn’t just another win. It was Syracuse’s largest margin of victory this season, powered by a season-high 106 points and a relentless pace from the opening tip. The Orange never trailed, never let up, and never gave the Lakers a chance to breathe.
With the win, Syracuse moves to 11-1 overall and 1-0 in ACC play, wrapping up its non-conference schedule on a dominant note. The only blemish on their early-season resume?
A loss to No. 6 Michigan back in late November.
Outside of that, the Orange have been rolling-and Friday’s performance was a clear extension of that momentum.
Offensive Fireworks from Start to Finish
From the very first possession, Syracuse made it clear this game wouldn’t be close. Sophie Burrows opened the scoring, and the Orange hit their first four shots to jump out to a quick 10-3 lead, forcing an early Mercyhurst timeout just over two minutes in. That was a sign of things to come.
Freshman Uche Izoje led the way with a game-high 23 points, showcasing the kind of poise and polish that’s rare for a first-year player. She was efficient, going 5-of-6 in the first quarter alone and finishing the night as the offensive anchor. But this was far from a one-woman show.
In total, five Orange players scored in double figures: Izoje (23), Burrows (12), Madeline Potts (11), Keira Scott (10), and Shy Hawkins (10). Twelve of the 14 players who saw the floor got on the scoreboard-an impressive display of depth and balance that head coach Felisha Legette-Jack will be thrilled to see heading into conference play.
Syracuse shot a blistering 59.0% from the field-another season high-and knocked down 7-of-16 from beyond the arc. This was an offense in rhythm, in sync, and in total control.
Defense Sets the Tone
While the offense stole the show, the defense was equally suffocating. Mercyhurst was held to just 24.6% shooting from the field and 18.2% from three-point range. The Lakers, still searching for their first win of the season, simply couldn’t find any breathing room.
By the end of the first quarter, the Orange were up 32-12-capped by a buzzer-beating three from Angelica Velez that had the student section waving pom-poms like it was March. The lead ballooned to 58-24 by halftime, even with Syracuse rotating heavily and giving significant minutes to the bench.
That depth was on full display, as all 14 players logged at least four minutes in the first half alone. And when the starters returned to start the third quarter, they picked up right where they left off, stretching the lead to 72-28 before heading back to the bench midway through the period.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, Syracuse had built a 66-point cushion-its most lopsided win of the season and one of the most dominant performances in recent program history.
Eyes on the ACC
This wasn’t just a feel-good win for the Orange-it was a tone-setter. With the non-conference schedule now in the rearview mirror, Syracuse turns its focus to the ACC, starting with a Dec. 28 matchup against Duke.
At 11-1, with a deep rotation, a breakout freshman in Izoje, and a roster that’s clicking on both ends of the floor, Syracuse has built real momentum heading into league play. And for a program led by a coach with championship aspirations, this is exactly where they want to be.
Felisha Legette-Jack has talked about building something special at Syracuse. Through 12 games, the Orange are backing up that vision with results-and Friday’s blowout was just the latest proof.
The competition is about to get tougher. But if Syracuse can carry this energy into the ACC, they won’t just be a team to watch-they’ll be a team to reckon with.