Syracuse Women’s Basketball: A Wake-Up Call Against Louisville, and a Chance to Regroup Before March
The Syracuse Orange are sitting in a solid spot-fifth place in the ACC, 19 wins on the season, and firmly in the NCAA Tournament conversation. That’s no small feat in just the second year of Felisha Legette-Jack’s rebuild.
But Sunday’s 84-65 loss to No. 6 Louisville wasn’t just a loss-it was a measuring stick.
And right now, it shows Syracuse still has some climbing to do if it wants to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the ACC’s elite.
A Brutal Start That Set the Tone
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the first quarter was rough. Louisville came out swinging, and Syracuse never landed a punch.
The Cardinals opened the game on a 28-6 run, while the Orange went 0-for-13 from the field in the first 10 minutes. That’s right-zero field goals in the opening frame.
The only points came from the free-throw line, and the Orange faithful were left clapping through gritted teeth, waiting for that first bucket that just wouldn’t fall.
It was Syracuse’s lowest-scoring quarter since they managed just six points against Michigan earlier this season. The energy was off, the execution even more so.
“We just didn’t come out and throw the first punch,” junior guard Sophie Burrows said postgame. “I think we just hurt ourselves in that sense.”
A Glimpse of What Could Be
To their credit, Syracuse didn’t fold. The Orange responded in the second quarter with the kind of fight and flow that’s become their identity this season.
They cut the deficit to eight at halftime and twice pulled within five points in the second half. That second quarter?
That was Syracuse basketball at its best-fast, fearless, and connected.
“We all watched that second quarter. I think that was Syracuse basketball at its finest,” Burrows said.
“That’s how we need to play for 40 minutes if we want to play with teams like Louisville. I think we’re more than capable.”
But “capable” and “consistent” are two different things, and against a team like Louisville-who’s made 14 straight NCAA Tournament appearances under Jeff Walz-you need both.
Louisville’s Machine vs. Syracuse’s Grit
Louisville came in averaging nearly 82 points per game, and they looked every bit the offensive juggernaut they’re billed to be. The Cardinals assisted on 20 of their 33 made field goals, moving the ball with precision and punishing Syracuse’s defensive lapses.
Syracuse, meanwhile, managed just five assists on 22 made shots. That gap in ball movement told the story.
And while Syracuse has a promising core-Burrows, Dominique Darius, Laila Phelia, and Uche Izoje-they didn’t all fire on the same night.
Darius was the standout, dropping 22 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting performance, including 3-for-3 from deep. But the eight turnovers she committed were costly-especially against a team that thrives in transition.
Izoje, who’s been racking up ACC Rookie of the Week honors like clockwork (six times this season), finished with 13 points and eight boards. Solid numbers, but against a top-10 team, Syracuse needed more from its rising star in the paint.
Burrows added 11 points but struggled with her shot, going 4-of-18 from the field and just 1-of-8 from three. Phelia, who’s been a steady contributor all season, was held to just five points.
That’s the reality at this level: to beat a team like Louisville, you need all four of your key players clicking. Syracuse got about two-and-a-half.
Looking Ahead: Opportunities Still on the Table
The good news? Syracuse has five regular-season games left, and none of them are against currently ranked teams. That’s a window of opportunity to build momentum, clean up the mistakes, and solidify their NCAA Tournament resume.
As it stands, ESPN’s bracketology has Syracuse projected as a No. 8 seed, lined up to face No. 9 USC in Storrs, Connecticut. Win that, and, well-let’s just say the next opponent would be a program with a few national titles in its trophy case.
But that’s a conversation for another day. Right now, Syracuse needs to focus on what’s directly in front of them: playing 40 minutes of consistent, connected basketball. The kind of basketball they showed in flashes against Louisville.
The Bigger Picture: Growth Is Happening
Let’s not lose sight of the progress. A year ago, Syracuse finished 12-18.
This season, they’re 19-5 and back in the national conversation. That’s a big leap.
But if the Orange want to take the next step-from tournament team to tournament threat-they’ll need to tighten the screws.
“We just fell short and weren’t good enough [Sunday], and that’s the truth,” Legette-Jack said after the game. “I’m just looking for more energy, less fear, more connection, more sisterhood.
I want this team to be with me, always grateful. I don’t want this to end.
I love these 15 kids. They are absolutely amazing young ladies that’s trying to be phenomenal.”
There’s belief in that locker room. There’s talent on the floor. And there’s still time to turn lessons into wins before March rolls around.
Syracuse isn’t quite ready to punch with the heavyweights just yet-but they’re not far off. The next five games will show us just how close they really are.