After a blowout home loss last week, the Syracuse Orange (14-3, 4-2) had to travel to face a Virginia Cavaliers squad which was undefeated in ACC play. Paced by Laila Phelia’s career-high 38 points, Syracuse rallied from a 34-28 halftime deficit with a dominant second-half performance.
Phelia played 39 minutes, shot 13-19 from the field (2-4 from 3) and 10-11 from the foul line. She added 5 rebounds and 3 steals and carried the Orange for 3 quarters on her way to the 5th-highest scoring performance in Syracuse history. Sophie Burrows scored 21 points on 7-8 shooting from 3 and was key in closing out the game hitting all 4 of her 3-pt attempts in the final quarter.
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Turnovers were the reason why Syracuse lost last week and 7 first-quarter turnovers were a big reason why they trailed 17-12 after the first quarter yesterday. It was Phelia who kept the Orange in the game scoring 13 of Syracuse’s 16 second-quarter points and keep the game close at the half.
Felisha Legette-Jack’s team cranked up the defense coming out of the break and forced Virginia into 7 turnovers.
The Orange also converted all 7 free-throw attempts in the quarter and took a four-point lead into the final 10 minutes.
With Uche Izoje (3-10) having an off-night shooting, it was Phelia and Burrows who brought the Orange home. The duo out-scored Virginia 22-11 in the final frame as Syracuse completely shut down the Cavailiers offense. Virgina shot 5-16 from the field, 1-8 from 3 and the Orange poured it on to bring home a Q1 victory.
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Syracuse out-scored Virginia 51-26 in the second half, They overcame losing the rebounding battle by forcing 21 turnovers.
The Orange will host California on Thursday night. Tip-off is 6:00 and will stream on ACCNX.
