Dariauna Lewis Joins the Orange
Syracuse University Women’s Basketball is getting one of the nation’s best rebounders this season. Head Coach Felisha Legette-Jack announced the addition of graduate transfer Dariauna Lewis on Wednesday afternoon. Lewis comes to Syracuse from Alabama A&M where she finished the 2021-22 season ranked 14th in the nation in rebounds per game (11.3).
“We are so excited to have Dariauna Lewis joining our Orange family,” Legette-Jack said. As a summa cum laude graduate of Alabama A&M that averaged a double double and was second in the country in rebounds as a junior, we feel that she will help us in the classroom and on the court.”
Lewis began her collegiate career at Missouri State where she appeared in 25 games for the Lady Bears in 2018-19. She transferred to Alabama A&M as a sophomore and made an immediate impact on the Bulldogs program starting in all 30 games while averaging 16.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while also leading the team in blocks per game (1.7). After her outstanding sophomore campaign, she was named the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) Newcomer of the Year and earned BOXTOROW First Team HBCU All-America recognition while also being named First Team All-SWAC.
“We love Dariauna’s, passion and intensity of purpose,” added Legette-Jack. “Her nickname is ‘Stretch’, her love for this game is undeniable and her focus is laser sharp. Orange Nation, please help us welcome Stretch to our Syracuse family.”
Lewis ranked No. 2 in the country in rebounds per game (13.0) during the 2020-21 season and added 17.8 points per game. She tallied 14 double doubles and earned All-SWAC First Team honors for the second-straight season.
Lewis finished her senior campaign 14th in the country in rebounds per game (11.3) and was twice named SWAC Player of the Week. She earned Second Team All-SWAC honors and became the first player in Alabama A&M history to earn BOXTOROW HBCU All-America honors multiple times (three) as a First Team selection from 2020-22.
Off the court, Lewis excelled in the classroom becoming just the second Alabama A&M student-athlete to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors multiple times earning Third Team honors in 2021 and Second Team honors this past season.
The Omaha, Neb., native led Omaha North High School in scoring and rebounding all four years of her career while earning First Team All-State honors as a senior. As a senior she set single-season scoring records for points per game (20.2), total points (464), rebounds (248) and field goals made (184) at NOHS.
Lewis is the 10th player to join the Orange since Legette-Jack was named head coach of the SU women’s basketball program bringing the team roster to 14 student-athletes for the upcoming season.
