Syracuse managed to edge past Iowa State with a 72-68 victory in the women's NCAA Tournament Round of 64. However, the Orange faced a significant challenge in the paint against Iowa State's star center, Audi Crooks.
Crooks was a force to be reckoned with, racking up 37 points on an impressive 68% shooting. Her 14-point surge in the fourth quarter nearly erased Syracuse's 41-26 halftime lead.
As Syracuse gears up to face UConn in the Round of 32, Coach Felisha Legette-Jack is preparing for another tough matchup in the post against Sarah Strong. Strong is a dominant presence and a frontrunner for this season's Player of the Year.
Reflecting on Crooks' performance, Legette-Jack acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, "You can't stop her. She's good.
We couldn't stop Crooks. I'm not a miracle worker."
Strong showcased her versatility in UConn's opening-round win over UTSA, scoring 18 points in just 28 minutes. While she may not match Crooks' scoring totals, Strong's all-around game makes her a formidable opponent. Against UTSA, she contributed five steals, five rebounds, and four assists, highlighting her defensive prowess and playmaking ability.
UConn did face some early struggles, missing their first nine field-goal attempts outside the paint, and Azzi Fudd was sidelined with foul trouble for much of the first half. Legette-Jack is focusing on limiting UConn's perimeter shooting, saying, "I just want to be able to contain [Strong] a little bit. I want to throw different fun things out there defensively to see if that sticks."
On the offensive side, Syracuse leans on their own interior star, Uche Izoje. The freshman is averaging around 15 points per game and has been on a tear recently, upping her average to 23 points over the last four games while nearly grabbing 10 rebounds per contest.
As Syracuse and UConn prepare to clash, both teams are ready to showcase their strengths in what promises to be an exciting matchup.