#23 Orange Take Down #15 Cardinals
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The No. 23 Syracuse women’s basketball team (20-4, 10-3) stormed back to defeat No. 15 Louisville (20-5, 9-3), 73-72, Sunday afternoon inside of the JMA Wireless Dome. The Orange split the season series with Louisville, notching their first win over the Cardinals since Feb. 9, 2020. With today’s victory, the Orange tied their win total from last season, and head coach Felisha Legette-Jack earned her second 20-win season in two years at the helm.
Fifth-year guard Dyaisha Fair led ‘Cuse with 29 points. Junior guard Georgia Woolley (14 points) also scored in double-digits. Four Orange players snatched six rebounds in the contest; Fair, Woolley, junior forward Saniaa Wilson and graduate guard Alaina Rice. Syracuse only led for 33 seconds in the contest, including the last two seconds of the game.
Sophomore forward Nyla Harris led Louisville with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Louisville entered the fourth quarter leading, 57-52, over the Orange. The Cardinals extended their lead to as much as nine in the quarter before an 8-0 run, marked by two triples from Fair and a layup from Wilson, cut the lead to just one. With two seconds left in the game, Louisville’s senior forward Olivia Cochran sent Fair to the line on an intentional foul. She made both from the charity stripe to earn the Orange the win.
TROUBLE FOR TOP-15 OPPONENTS
Syracuse earned its fourth win over a Top-15 ranked team this season. Their first victory came at home against then-ranked No. 13 Notre Dame on Dec. 31, followed by an 18-point comeback against No. 15 Florida State on Jan. 18. The Orange also took a 14-point road victory over the No. 15 Fighting Irish on Jan. 25.
OF NOTE
– Syracuse moves to 20-4 this season.
– ‘Cuse is now 10-3 in ACC matchups.
– Fair scored 29 points in the contest, her second-most points in a game this season.
– Rice is now six points away from 1,000 career points.
– Syracuse gains their fourth win of the season over a Top-15 team in ACC play.
– ‘Cuse outscored Louisville 21-15 in the fourth quarter, including Fair’s two free throws to win the game.
– Four Orange players grabbed six boards in the contest.
NEXT UP
The Orange embark on their last road trip of the regular season, starting Thursday, Feb. 15 against Miami, followed by a matchup against Virginia on Sunday, Feb. 18. Thursday’s game is slated for 6 p.m., and Sunday’s contest will tipoff at 2 p.m.
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