Virginia lets it fly handing Syracuse it’s sixth loss in last seven games

CHARLOTTESVILLE, V.A. — The 18th ranked Virginia Cavaliers came into Saturday’s matchup against Syracuse as the third best offensive rebounding team in the country, and they secured 17 more on route to a 72-59 victory against the Orange.

The Cavaliers took 30 threes in the game, and while they only made ten of them, the offensive rebounds the Cavaliers grabbed on their misses generated second chance opportunities that helped them improve to 20-3 on the season.

“They know and understand how impactful [offensive rebounding] can be for our overall game and offense in particular,” said Virginia head coach Ryan Odom after the game.

On the other side, the Orange were led by 19 points from point guard Nait George, who finished eight of nine shooting on the day, as well as 13 apiece from JJ Starling and Nate Kingz.

But at the end of the day, the second chance points generated by UVA fueled them to victory.

“We just have to turn around and box out,” said Starling after the game.

“They just got more opportunities because of their offensive rebounds, and I think that was the key that separated them from us,” said Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry.

For Autry’s Orange early on, it was a two man show offensively. George scored eight of the team’s first twelve points but was in foul trouble early and had to go to the bench. Starling scored four points in the early going as well but needed to take a breather.

When those George and Starling were off the floor, Syracuse turned to the leading scorer from Monday to put up the most shots, but forward Donnie Freeman really struggled from the floor on Saturday.

Freeman finished the game with a mere five points and only made two of his eleven attempted shots. His frustration boiled over after one of his two made shots, as he screamed at the official pleading he was fouled and was given a technical foul. This tech fueled Virginia, and their lead quickly extended to twelve.

“I thought [Virginia’s] physicality really bothered our front court today,” said Autry.

It felt as if this might be another game where it would get ugly, but Syracuse ended the first half strong. With George and Starling back in there, Syracuse would go on a 13-2 run to tie the game at 33 right before the break and would trail by only three at halftime with the score 38-35.

Syracuse would keep it close for a good portion of the second half as well, but then another mistake from Donnie Freeman ignited the Cavaliers.

Coming out of a media timeout down 48-44, Freeman turned the ball over attempting to inbound it to George as Virginia ran the full-court press over the course of the entire game. That turnover led to a three from Sam Lewis, who led Virginia with 16 points on the day, and an eruption inside the John Paul Jones Arena.

From that point forward, Virginia would never surrender the lead. The Orange would show a bit of fight late, but would never get closer than four, and did not make a shot for almost three minutes to end the game.

“The turnovers and the defense got the game further than what it should have been, but it was those momentum plays that really killed us,” said Kingz.

One name that was not etched into the box score, and a subplot that was generated from the game was that freshman Kiyan Anthony did not see the floor for the first time this season.

“There are no injuries he is dealing with, this was my decision,” said Autry.

Autry’s decision will raise questions moving forward, but for now, Syracuse soaks up its sixth loss in its last seven games and will return home for a two-game homestand against SMU and California this week.

Syracuse defeats Florida State 94-86, sharpshooting leads to third straight ACC win

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse defeated Florida State 94-86 after a strong shooting night at the JMA Wireless Dome on Tuesday. 

Syracuse shot 59.7 percent from the field, and sophomore forward Donnie Freeman scored 25 points – his fifth 20-point performance of the season.

Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry could not be more pleased in Freeman.

“Donnie is just efficient. The one thing about him is he does a good job of getting to his spots, or he can get to the foul line,” Autry said. “When you have someone like that, a lot of times, it’s trying to get him the ball and trying to get him some space a little bit.”

The Orange shot 40.7 percent from three-point range. Tyler Betsey was the flamethrower that led the charge from downtown, making 6-of-8 3-point attempts. The sophomore forward’s six 3s were a career-high.

“My first two 3s – the second one especially, felt really good off my fingers,” Betsey said. “Once I hit that second, it was kind of just like I knew I was going to have a good game after that.”

However, Autry was not pleased with his team’s defense.

“The inconsistencies on defense was an issue,” Autry said. “Even though our offense has improved, we can’t let the defense slip.”

Nonetheless, the Orange have won three straight games in conference play, and their 12-5 record is the best start of the Adrian Autry era.

Syracuse (12-5, 3-1) will play at Boston College (7-10, 0-4) on Saturday. The game will air at 2pm on ACC Network.

Syracuse falls to Virginia Tech in one-sided home loss 

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In her pregame speech, Syracuse head coach Felicia Legette-Jack told her team to expect a track meet against Virginia Tech. Legette-Jack’s scouting report was perfect, yet her team’s performance was anything but, as the Hokies trounced the Orange 77-57 at the JMA Wireless Dome.

“A track meet means two teams should be running,” Legette-Jack said. “Tonight, one team was running and the other was setting it up and waiting to be trapped.”

Syracuse particularly struggled from downtown – both offensively and defensively. The Orange were just 3-for-12 from deep, with two of their triples coming late in the fourth quarter. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, excelled from long range, shooting 6-for-9 behind the arc.

“They were moving,” Legette-Jack said about Virginia Tech, “what we weren’t doing was moving with them.”

A six-minute scoreless stretch for the Orange at the beginning of the second quarter allowed the Hokies to build a 35-23 lead by halftime. Virginia Tech then opened the third frame on a 7-0 run and led 62-41 heading into the fourth.

“Put all the blame on me tonight,” Legette-Jack said. “I didn’t do the right job getting them ready.”

Syracuse falls to 13-3 overall and 3-2 in ACC play. The Orange will travel to Charlottesville on Sunday to face the red-hot Virginia Cavaliers at 2 p.m. UVA has won seven straight and defeated SU 70-67 last February at the Dome. 

Syracuse Starts off the New Year with a Bang

Syracuse opened the New Year on the right foot, defeating Florida State 82-72 to bounce back from an ACC loss to Duke and improve to 12-2 on the season.

From the opening tip, Syracuse set their tone with high energy and physicality, jumping out to a 26-14 first-quarter lead, while shooting 64 percent from the field. The Orange never surrendered the lead, controlling the game on the boards, in transition, and through their dominance in the paint. They won the physical battle decisively, grabbing 22 offensive rebounds, turning them into 19 second chance points and finishing with 48 points in the paint.

Freshman Uche Izoje delivered a monster performance, posting 21 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks on 10-of-13 shooting. Sophie Burrows repeatedly found her inside, which was a simple formula of success for the Orange.

“She’s such an amazing athlete. I just throw it up there and she gets it,” Burrows said. “Just throwing it up to the rubber, not many people can jump with her.”

Burrows made her own impact off the bench, playing 34 minutes and posting 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals. Along with Burrows, Dominique Darius helped control the pace for the Orange, finishing second on the team with 19 points while adding five assists and her usual defensive spark to steady Syracuse during a late Florida State push.

“ACC play is tough. Teams are going to go on runs and it’s about how we respond. How we talk to each other and keep uplifting each other kept us in the game and allowed us to finish strong,” Darius said.

Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack said the performance reflected exactly who this group is becoming.

“It’s going to take the whole 40-plus minutes against anyone in the conference,” Legette-Jack said. “I really believe this is a fantastic team, I want them to know this is not a fluke. This is really who we are.”
Now 2-1 in ACC play, Syracuse is on a mission to prove they belong firmly in the conference conversation.
Syracuse opened the New Year on the right foot, defeating Florida State 82-72 to bounce back from an ACC loss to Duke and improve to 12-2 on the season.

Now 2-1 in ACC play, Syracuse is on a mission to prove they belong firmly in the conference conversation.

George, Starling lead Syracuse past Stonehill 77 – 48

Syracuse, NY – The Orange tops Stonehill 77–48 in nonconference finale

In its final non-conference tune-up before ACC play, Syracuse took care of business at home, defeating Stonehill College 77–48. The Orange wasted no time asserting control, opening the game on a 12–2 run behind a hot shooting start from Naithan George and JJ Starling.

The backcourt duo powered Syracuse throughout the first half, accounting for 27 of the team’s 39 points. George led the way with 14 points, while Starling added 13, as the Orange dictated the pace and entered halftime with a 12-point advantage over the Skyhawks.

Syracuse’s offensive efficiency was a promising sign heading into conference play. The Orange shot 48 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point range, a sharp turnaround after shooting just 25 percent from beyond the arc in their previous outing against Northeastern. That improvement, paired with strong defensive energy, gives Syracuse confidence as the competition level rises in ACC play.

The second half opened unevenly for the Orange, as sloppy possessions allowed Stonehill to cut the lead down to five. However, Syracuse quickly settled in, stopping the momentum with a timely floater from George. What followed was a stretch of back-and-forth play where neither team found much offensive rhythm.

Despite the scoring droughts, Syracuse maintained control through hustle and defensive intensity, creating transition opportunities and easy baskets. With five minutes remaining, the Orange had stretched the lead to 21, effectively putting the game out of reach.

George and Starling continued their strong performances through to the final buzzer, finishing with 22 and 20 points, respectively. Head coach Adrian Autry praised George’s recent growth, saying, “Naithan George… I see him being more decisive. I thought he made plays, he was just more decisive and just getting a feel for the offense.”

Starling, who delivered his most complete performance of the season and scored his 1,000 career point tonight, credited his mindset for the breakout game. “I’ve just been coming into the game just playing and not thinking and not overanalyzing my performance,” Starling said. “Just don’t worry about making mistakes, just go out and hoop. And that’s what allowed me to have success.”

With strong guard play, improved shooting, and defensive effort, Syracuse heads into ACC play with momentum and growing confidence at the right time.

Syracuse Men’s Basketball vs. Stonehill 12/22/2025 Photo Gallery

Syracuse rolls past Mercyhurst 106-40 for 6th straight win

Syracuse, N.Y. – The Orange wasted no time going after their sixth consecutive win vs Mercyhurst Friday morning.

Syracuse erupted out of the gate on both sides of the ball, offensively and defensively. From the opening tipoff, the Orange shot the ball lights out, shooting 59% from the field and 44% from beyond the arc.

From shooting to rebounding, the Orange led in all categories of the box score in their final non-conference matchup of the season. Syracuse stormed past Mercyhurst 106-40. Today’s win was the first time SU has scored over 100 points since 2024.

Freshman center Uche Izoje continues to add on to her stellar 2025-2026 compaign. She recorded her second consecutive double-double, scoring 23 points and 11 rebounds. Izoje is the first to do so since Kyra Wood did it in the 2024-25 season.

Izoje kept it simple on how she will adjust when Syracuse begins ACC play.

“I just say keep playing the way I play,” Izoje said. “I know we’re going to be playing bigger teams so I have to give my best every time, every day, every rebound, the little things I can do to build my game up.”

Not only was the momentum for the Orange was on the court, it was also in the stands. Today was School day at the JMA Wireless Dome where students local schools across the district attended today’s contest.

There were 10,226 in attendance, the second largest crowd in program history. Head Coach Felisha Leggete-Jack noted how important it was to send the kids who were in attendance home with a smile.

“That’s what it’s all about,” Jack said. “We can have an opportunity to beat a team the way we did and everybody’s waiving and thanking. I’m so blessed to witness 10,000 people leaving this building with a smile on their face.”

The Orange will now shift its attention to ACC conference play. They will welcome Duke for its ACC opener on Sunday, December 28th. Tipoff is at 4 PM.

Syracuse beats Mercyhurst 76-62, still not in “Level 5” shape

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse’s loss to Hofstra on Saturday had some putting head coach Adrian Autry on the hot seat. Although a 76-62 win over 4-8 Mercyhurst might not be the most convincing win of the season, Autry’s squad at least put a few of the puzzle pieces together.

Captain J.J. Starling came blazing out of the gates once again with 10 points in less than five minutes of play. He finished with 15, sharing the team lead with senior William Kyle III, who added 10 rebounds to complete his third double-double of the season.

“[Kyle III] puts a lot of pressure on the rim and is just relentless,” Autry said. “He does everything. Initially, I thought it was just going to be on one side of the ball, but he’s definitely surpassed the impact that we thought he would have on the offensive side.”

The Orange were physical, grabbing 39 boards for their third best performance of the season.

“There’s a lot of things that I think people are not appreciating about this group and the way they fight,” Autry said.

One of the largest puzzle pieces missing to this point was free throws. The Orange entered the night as the worst free throw shooting team in the country. They emerged hitting a season best 75% of their shots from the charity stripe.

“I told you guys that we would get better shooting free throws, right?” Autry said. “You just keep shooting. It’s all work.”

There were some blemishes in the win. Syracuse turned the ball over 10 times in the first half and finished with 16, just three shy of their worst ball handling game of the season in a 95-64 loss to Iowa State.

“We were preaching play fast, and with that comes some turnovers,” Starling said. “But we’re going to keep playing fast. We’re going to get those out and clean some things up.”

Most glaringly of all, the Orange were outscored by the Lakers 39-37 in the second half. After the loss to Hofstra, freshman Kiyan Anthony noted the team’s faulty tendency to play down to their opponent’s level.

“We have to do a better job of just putting these teams away early and keeping our foot on the gas going into the second half,” Anthony said. “We only won by 14 points. That’s unacceptable to us. We know we are better than that.”

Syracuse has just two non-conference games left in Northeastern and Stonehill to return to Autry’s “Level 5” standard before ACC play.

“You guys know when it’s Level 5,” Starling said. “Tennessee was Level 5, and that’s exactly why we got the results. It’s felt through the whole building, and lately we haven’t been that.”

Tip off against Northeastern is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Syracuse vs. Auburn Women’s Basketball Photo Gallery

Syracuse vs. Tennessee University Men’s basketball photo gallery

Syracuse vs Iowa State Photo Gallery

Orange women’s basketball routs upstate New York foe

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – It was ugly sweater night at the JMA Wireless Dome on Wednesday as Syracuse took on Colgate, and it was an ugly offensive performance for the Raiders due to tenacious defense from the Orange that forced 27 turnovers in their 88-42 win.

Syracuse women’s basketball came into its matchup against Colgate leading the all-time head-to-head series 16-0, and with the Raiders down six rostered players due to injury, this result was no different.

Syracuse started the game out on a 14-0 run, with eight of those coming in the first 77 seconds. Freshman center Uche Izoje opened the run with a soft jumper, and back-to-back threes from forward Sophie Burrows and guard Lalia Phelia quickly followed, forcing Raider head coach Shannon Bush to call an early timeout.

But even after the timeout, the Orange defense would continue to shine, and it wouldn’t be until 4:14 left in the first quarter that Colgate would see their first field goal on a three-point make from sophomore guard Ella Mahaffey.

Syracuse smothered Colgate in the first ten minutes, holding the Raiders to just 2-for-11 shooting and forcing 10 turnovers in a dominant first quarter that saw Syracuse lead it 24–5 lead. Graduate point guard Dominique Darius set the defensive tone early, anchoring the pressure and later adding 10 assists, while Burrows and Phelia also played pivotal roles in the suffocating start.

“I think our captains are so locked in on defense,” Orange head coach Felisha Legette-Jack said.

The defense continued to play strongly in the second quarter, but the offense slowed down a bit, and with 5:08 left to play in the first half, Syracuse’s lead had shrunk to 30-14.

But then Burrows took over. She sparked a 10–0 Orange run to close the first half, drilling back-to-back threes and controlling the offensive rhythm. In just 11 first-half minutes, she poured in 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from deep and went on to finish with 13 points for the game.

Coach Jack acknowledged that Burrows’ quieter offensive start to the season has been puzzling at times, but she believes it stems from the guard’s commitment to anchoring Syracuse on the defensive end.

“One thing she has been bringing is that defensive prowess that helps with rebounding, creating an extra shot and organizing the team,” Coach Jack said.

Burrows two threes were the beginning of a 10-0 run to end the first half as the Orange would take a 42-16 lead into the locker room.

After halftime, Syracuse would not take their foot off the gas, outscoring Colgate 22-12 in the third quarter. The game’s leading scorer, Izoje, and the Orange’s other Australian native, sophomore guard Madeline Potts, played a role in the third quarter scoring, combining for 9 of the 22 points on 4-of-7 shooting.

Potts would finish the game with 10 points, after coming into the game with only nine combined on the season.

“I love playing with my teammates, so I had to opportunity to be able to go out there and have fun and 10 points came from that,” said Potts.

The large lead allowed for Coach Jack to empty the bench, as all 15 rostered Syracuse players got into the game.

“This is one of those games where I can go home and sleep at night because everyone plays, we play well and have success and our leaders led us in a fun game,” said Coach Jack.

With the win, Syracuse improved to 9-1 on the season and 7-0 at home as they prepare to host to Binghamton Bearcats on Tuesday with tipoff set for 7 PM.

Syracuse captains take accountability after ACC home opener loss vs. Duke

The Syracuse Orange faced just their second loss of the season to the Duke Blue Devils in their ACC home opener. Captain Dominique Darius led the team with 18 points and 3 rebounds, but the selfless leader still felt she didn’t do enough.

“We’re going to miss shots, we’re going to miss layups but the things we can control, we gotta really emphasize so honestly it’s just on me as a captain … I gotta hold people accountable and I gotta hold myself accountable.”

Fellow captain Laila Phelia echoed her teammates message, emphasizing Darius’ performance as an example to the team.

“Just seeing Dom go out there and being aggressive and stuff..” Phelia said she would tell her teammates, “Okay you see Dom doing it, we all need to be on the same page.”

Coach Jack said, “One thing I love about my captains is that they own their stuff.. they hold themselves responsible and they’re going to make changes.”

An issue that star freshman Uche Izoje has dealt with in her early career has been foul trouble and the story line continued today. Izoje committed two early fouls and forced the hand of Coach Jack to bench her for valuable minutes. She later fouled out with 6:54 to play.

“I’d like to see her play 34 minutes too,” Coach Jack said about Izoje’s minutes today. “I thought we adjusted to the way things were being called and then the adjustment had to be again… we just gotta figure out how the calls are going to be called to keep her on the floor.”

“She is one of the best players in the conference, arguably in the country but no one’s never going to know… If she’s playing 34 minutes, we’re a different team. If she’s playing 18 minutes, we’re a different team.”

And her absence was felt after the first quarter. The Orange gave up a 12-5 lead in the first finishing the quarter tied at 14-14. Duke continued its run outscoring the Orange 19-8 in the second quarter, a deficit Syracuse could not overcome.

As a team, though, Darius said they need to put together a full 40 minutes.

“It’s really the second quarter, I feel like that’s where we lost it.” Darius said. “It’s really a game of possessions. Every possession we gotta value it better … making sure we’re dialed in every possession.”

As for final captain Sophie Burrows who has seen highs and lows of scoring in her junior year, Coach Jack said she knows what she needs to do and bring to the team.

“She’s a kid that can play both sides of the ball. We want both sides to be played… at the end of the day, we want the ball to go in the hole.”

Burrows acknowledged she needed to do better after her lopsided performance. Darius had encouraging words for Burrows after she was held to just 2 points offensively, 5 steals and 6 rebounds.

“The losses suck but these are the type of losses that really build character and resilience so it’s really going to come down to how we respond.”

Syracuse escapes OT with a gritty 66-60 win over Auburn

SYRACUSE, NY- The Syracuse Orange notch a win for their conference in the ACC-SEC Challenge in a hardnose overtime battle.

While it was not a pretty offensive performance for the Orange, only shooting 34.9% from the field and 0-16 from three-point range, it was the effort outside the box score that fueled the Orange.

Crashing the boards, second effort on loose balls, active hands in passing lanes, and applying constant pressure on the Tigers allowed the Orange to outpace an athletic Auburn team.

The Orange finished with 15 steals, 7 blocks, and outrebounded Auburn 16-7 on the offensive glass.

Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack kept it simple when describing her teams fight.

“Ferocious,” Jack said. “It’s the kind of game I love. It’s called defense and we weren’t going to relinquish a single point.”

Freshman center Uche Izoje was an anchor of that mentality. She had a stellar performance, claiming her second double-double of her young career.

Izoje finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and added five blocks and a steal. This adds more to her resumé after being named ACC Rookie of the Week on Monday.

Free throw shooting from the Orange also provided an edge, especially late in the game. The Orange sank 22 of 27 free throws, good for 81 percent as a team.

The Orange finished with four players scoring in the double digits with senior guard Dominique Darius leading the way with 20 points.

Junior guard Sophie Burrows was one of those players with 11 points, and her four steals came up huge. Burrows intercepted a pass with 24 seconds left in overtime which led to her sinking two free throws to put the game out of reach.

“Honestly the ball just kind of ended up in my hands,” Burrows said. “The on-ball defense forced the pass my direction and I kind of got residuals of that.”

This was the first win over Auburn in program history. The Orange were 0-5 in previous matchups dating back to 1988.

The Orange are now set their sets to Dallas, as they travel to face SMU on Sunday at 3pm EST.

After tonight’s statement win, Coach Jack has a message for the rest of the country.

“We’re coming after everybody that’s in our way of our dreams,” Jack said. “We’re going to learn lessons, and we’re going to win.”

Syracuse Handles Howard to Remain Undefeated at Home

The Orange pick up another double-digit win to bounce back after their first loss.

After their first loss of the season to Michigan, Syracuse quickly regrouped with a 78-62 win over Howard to stay perfect at home. It took the Orange some time to settle in, leaving the crowd waiting for more than three minutes before the first field goal finally dropped.

“I thought we were being too casual. That’s not who we are. You get one chance to show one kid who came to the game for the first time what it looks like to play women’s basketball. And we missed those few minutes,” Coach Felicia Leggette-Jack said.

Once Syracuse found a rhythm, it took full control. Syracuse scored on seven straight possessions to close the first quarter and never trailed again. Dominant defense fueled the turnaround and created easy offense.

Uche Izoje delivered a standout performance with 20 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks, anchoring the interior on both ends. It was a balanced effort that carried the day alongside Izoje. Syracuse shot 50% from the field and had 14 players see the floor.

“We don’t have a go to player, we have a go to team,” Coach Leggette-Jack said.

Four players scored double figures, and Angelica Velez orchestrated the offense with nine assists, one shy of her season high.

“We like to play with pace and it’s my job to find our bigs and shooters. Moving forward we have to keep pushing the pace and make the right play,” Velez said.

They’ll have to keep that intensity up with their toughest home test yet in SEC/ACC Challenge against Auburn on Wednesday.

Syracuse has no answers for dominant No. 6 Michigan

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Syracuse women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack slumped into her chair with her head resting in her right hand during the third quarter of her team’s 81-55 loss to No. 6 Michigan.

Syracuse center Uche Izoje had just turned the ball over, marking the eighteenth giveaway of the game for the Orange. Michigan promptly took the ball in transition to score a wide-open basket.

The five second sequence was a complete encapsulation of the contest. Syracuse was outworked, outhustled and outmatched.

“I apologize to Michigan,” Jack said. “I don’t think that we’ve given them a good example of what competition looks like.”

The Wolverine defense suffocated Syracuse all afternoon. Traps were set all over the floor as the Orange carried the ball forward. No matter who was handling the rock, it felt like a double team was ready to swarm them.

“We (tell) our players, ‘don’t go to the corner,'” Jack said. “And they kept going to the corners… (It was) almost like I was getting punked out there myself.”

Michigan fought for every wooden panel on the court. For all 40 minutes, every square inch of Mohegan Sun Arena was theirs.

Michigan refers to itself as the hardest working team in the nation. On Sunday, they lived up that monicker. The Wolverines certainly outworked Syracuse. They dominated the glass, outrebounding the Orange 46-32.

“Our guards didn’t come to the boards,” Jack said. “That’s on them. We got boxed out and we stayed boxed out. That’s not who we are and that’s not what I coach.”

Jack’s squad failed to match the offensive firepower and depth of the Wolverines. Michigan guard Te’Yala Delfosse scored a game-high 21 points off the bench and shot 8-for-11 from the field. The reserves combined for 42 points.

“I think that’s what makes our team such a great team,” Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico said.

Coming into the game, Syracuse’s defense was impassable. The Orange built a wall around the basket with their smothering defense, holding opponents to just 49 points per game. Michigan’s combination of shot-making and ball movement knocked it down.

The Orange offense was the exact opposite. It was stagnant and stale. When they found open shots, very few of them fell.

Syracuse guard Sophie Burrows has been ice-cold shooting the ball through the first month of the season. That trend continued on Sunday, when she made just one of her ten field goal attempts and missed all seven of her three-point tries. Jack was blunt about her captain’s lack of production.

“She’s got to figure it out or I’ve got to sub her out,” Jack said. “I love her, but she’s got to get to the basket and get to the free throw line. She’s way better than she’s playing right now.”

After winning its first five contests of the season, the 26-point loss was a reality check for Syracuse. The Orange will need to improve if they want to be serious players on the national stage.

“I just thought that we got punked today,” Jack said. “We’ll continue to get better for sure.”

Syracuse vs No. 9 Notre Dame Photo Gallery

Syracuse Women’s Basketball Dominates Defensively in Dome Win Against Wagner

Syracuse, NY — Despite losing the tip-off and earning their first points off a foul from the visiting Wagner Seahawks, the Syracuse Orange dominated Sunday afternoon’s non-conference matchup.

Putting on a show for the crowd and winning 78 to 29, Syracuse won by their highest margin since their 2016 Coppin State win (109-60). Ending the first quarter 22-4, the Orange defense was on display, led by graduate student Dominique Darius. 

Darius has proven to be a strong leader for the Orange on and off the court. Coach Felisha Legette-Jack attributed the fast turnaround from the bumps during the first couple of minutes to Darius, saying she was able to push the team’s energy and get them back on track. 

The Orange defense weakened in the second half, where they allowed a game-high of 13 points. Redshirt senior Priscilla Varela led the effort for the Seahawks, earning five of those points despite playing under five minutes. 

In the third quarter, the Orange decided to repeat their first quarter, going 22-4 once again. Continuing the tough defense from both teams, the Seahawks committed five fouls, where the Orange were able to translate 71.4% from the line. 

Coach Felisha Legette-Jack played out her full bench, with each player earning at least eight minutes. While Coach Jack doesn’t believe her team is quite at their best defensively, she’s optimistic about the team chemistry and their ability to work together through the rest of the season. She trusts her team leaders to bring the defensive play to a new high, and once again boasts Dominique Darius as one of these star leaders on the defense. 

The crowd was excited to welcome sophomore Olivia Schmitt back to the court after she was out for the first three games with a minor leg injury. Despite not being able to fully practice for the last month and a half, Schmitt earned 6 points in her 9 minutes. 

Another standout was Laila Phelia, the highly anticipated senior transfer from Texas, who earned 15 points for the Orange and shot 100% from the line, the paint, and the field. As another captain for the team, Phelia has already put up 37 total points and has cemented her place in the team. 

Syracuse is back at the dome, facing Howard on November 30th, their first matchup with the Bison since 2015. 

Syracuse’s Skid Continues against No. 18 Miami

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Syracuse’s struggles continue Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium, as the Orange fell to No. 18 Miami, 38–10.

Since quarterback Steve Angeli’s season-ending Achilles injury, Syracuse has dropped six straight and failed to score more than 18 points in any game.

The Orange held their own early, keeping Miami off the board midway through the second quarter and sacking quarterback Carson Beck twice.

“If you watch the game and look at it from 26 plus minutes, you can see how good of a football team we can be,” head coach Fran Brown said.

That early momentum flipped quickly when Beck caught a touchdown pass from wide receiver Malachi Toney, opening the scoring for Miami. The very next drive, Syracuse quarterback Rickie Collins threw a pick-six to make it 14–0 in under a minute.

From there, it was all Hurricanes. Beck became just the second active FBS quarterback to surpass 10,000 career passing yards, connecting with Keelan Marion on a 61-yard touchdown that paved the way for a 38–3 lead.

Syracuse’s only offensive output came on the last drive of the game, when freshman walk-on Joe Filardi connected with freshman tight end Elijah Washington-Baker for the first scores of both their careers.

“We’re looking to build a program. Both of those guys work hard and deserved to be out there,” Coach Brown said.

Syracuse (3–7) is no longer bowl-eligible with just two games left in the season and now look to right their wrongs headed into a bye week.

New Season, New Fire: Syracuse Sets Bold Tone at 2025 ACC Tip Off

By: Sydney Cuillier

CHARLOTTE, NC – For nearly 20 years, ACC teams have come together for a three-day event ahead of the basketball season to preview what fans can expect before the first jump ball on their home courts. Today is the last day of the 2025 ACC Tip Off in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Syracuse set the stage, letting all know that this upcoming season will be one to remember.

After a complete internal restructure of the Syracuse women’s coaching staff and 8 new additions to the roster, Head Coach Felisha-Legette Jack, two-thirds of the team’s captains, Sophie Burrows and Laila Phelia, have a unifying theme of bringing their “why” to practice every day and having it translate to the court.

“We are working hard every day to not just get our mental focus but also get our bodies right and in shape. We have 15 great players that’s ready and willing and competitively working hard to earn minutes, so we as coaches have to be consistent just like our players,” Legette Jack said.

While the whistle hasn’t blown for the first matchup just yet, Sophie Burrows and Laila Phelia are not only excited, but they also displayed utmost confidence for what the season’s conclusion chapter would be.

“We were talking the other day about how Syracuse has never won an ACC championship. So, we definitely want to make history this season and get there,” Burrows said.

As the women chase their first ACC crown with renewed determination, the men are bonding over family ties. Head Coach Adrian Autry is in his third year at the helm, and the main notion he wants his players to embody as they start and continue through the season is that they are a family.

“That’s what I’m most excited about with this team this year, is for everyone to get a chance to see how much they care about each other and how connected they really are. I think that’s going to bode well for us this upcoming season.”

Coach Autry’s journey from the SYR to the CLT wasn’t complete without returning players Donnie Freeman and J.J. Starling joined him. Starling quickly emerged as the leading scorer from last season, averaging 17.8 points per game, and before his season-ending foot injury, Freeman was dubbed a “breakout” freshman due to his physical frontcourt presence. Both heading into the 2025-206 season, ultimately serving as the building blocks Syracuse needed for the upcoming resurgence to prominence.

“We have the right pieces, the right group of guys that just want to play for each other and want to be there for each other and just compete, and get to the NCAA tournament,” said Starling.

Both teams are approaching this season with a newfound fire, fueled by a desire to rectify the wrongs that occurred previously. The question of what happened to Syracuse basketball keeps floating around, but this year, the Orange are ready to answer it.
The men’s team opens with an exhibition on October 25th, and the women will follow suit with their first appearance in the dome on October 28th.