New head coach Felisha Legette-Jack is the real deal.
Freezing temperatures and piles of snow are a constant in late November in Syracuse, but women’s basketball’s hot start is brand new.
First year head coach Felisha Legette-Jack has heads turning from the first four wins of the season after their win over Long Island University, 85-63.
The standing clapping tradition before Syracuse’s first basket kept fans on their feet for longer than one would have anticipated, but after two patient minutes of waiting, Dyaisha Fair hit a floater and allowed fans to take their seats.
Strong icy winds and frigid weather kept the Orange pretty stiff in the first six minutes of the game trailing 11-4, but after a nine-to-two run put on display by Syracuse, the score was tied 13-13 and warming up.
After ending the first quarter down one, 14-13, the Orange and Sharks were all knotted up 27-27 with 3:21 to go in the first half.
Too close for comfort, so, Syracuse unloaded for nine straight unanswered points where Asia Strong capped off the first half by burying a buzzer-beating three-pointer.
Legette-Jack was fired up and the entire team could feel the rhythm flowing.
36-27 out of the midway mark and once the Orange were on the gas pedal, they didn’t let off.
Fans grabbed a hotdog or pretzel and after looking down for a bite, the score had already shifted to 68-41 at the end of the third quarter. Syracuse shot 45% from the field and knocked down five triples.
Dyaisha Fair proved once again why she is the team’s leading scorer by posting 22 points, going 8-15 from the field and would not be denied at the rim using her speed.
With the absence of forward Dariauna Lewis, who normally starts and averages a double-double, someone had to step up. That name was Asia Strong. Playing into her last name by being a bully on the block down low. Strong wreaked havoc with 15 points and her first career triple for Syracuse.
Syracuse forced 27 turnovers and had 42 points in the paint. Working both sides of the court by defense turning into offense.
This is the fifth time in the last decade that Syracuse has started the season 4-0. The most recent year was 2020-21.
Felisha Legette-Jack, plus a hungry young team, has been the formula for success to start this season.
Syracuse will hit the road for the first time this season and take on the Nittany Lions of Penn State on Monday, Nov. 21st.
