The Syracuse Seniors Lead the Charge For the Home Opener
By Jack Nevins
The Syracuse Women’s Basketball team took down the Niagara Purple Eagles 108-84 this past Tuesday, at home in the JMA Wireless Dome, to kick off the start to the new season. ‘Cuse was on fire with six players scoring in double digits. Since 2006, every Syracuse WBB has won their season opener.
The squad saw new friendly faces on the floor on Tuesday, as seven ‘Cuse players made their regular-season debuts, including Graduate student Dominique Camp who suffered a torn ACL injury last season during an exhibition game in the pre-season. In addition to Camp, first year’s Madeline Potts, Shy Hawkins, Olivia Schmitt, and Keira Scott. Transfers, Angelica Valez and Journey Thompson also completed their first game with the Orange. Valez previously played at Louisiana State during her freshman year while coming off the bench. Thompson played her freshman and sophomore years at Arizona State, but was injured for 13 games during her freshman year. In her sophomore season, she played all 31 games, starting 25, and led the team in rebounds and blocks, all while being tied for third in steals, and fifth in scoring.
The seniors made Tuesday nights game their show, as they walked into a season that could be their last. Forward Kya Wood had 19 points, and Guard Georgia Wooley had 18 points, both leading the team in scoring. Camp, Scott, Hawkins, and graduate student Izabel Varejao contributed with double digit scoring. Wood and Scott took down eight rebounds each, leading the team in boards. Camp looked like a prime Dyaisha Fair, passing out a team high of nine assists. Wood’s 19 points, marked her career high at Syracuse after going 9 for 12 from the field. She came up two rebounds short of a double double, putting up 19 points, 8 rebounds, and an assist.
For the Purple Eagles, sophomore guard Safiatu Kolliegbo and junior forward Talia Dial, helped the Eagles cut the Orange lead. The Eagles trailed by 15 at halftime before scoring 31 points in the third quarter to cut the lead to 10, 73-63. Kolliegbo led the Purple Eagles with 16 points, as junior guard Marlie Dickerson added 15 points. Junior forward Amelia Strong tossed on 14 points, while freshman guard LaKeeyah Barnes contributed 11 points off the bench, becoming the spark plug for NU. The Eagles did not go away in this game, and found many ways to stop the Syracuse offense. They had 19 steals and forced 30 turnovers, which was very costly for the Orange. ‘Cuse pulled away in the fourth because of Wood’s 19 points and the 68% shooting percentage from the field.
With a strong start, 1-0, to the season for Syracuse, this adds on to their 27 straight non-conference wins in a row. This also extended their win-column against Niagara, making the series 12-4. Nearly the whole Syracuse roster touched the floor, with 10 out of 12 players putting feet on the hardwood. The Orange will continue this homestand with another non-conference matchup, but this time out of the A10, with Saint Joseph’s, this Sunday, November 10th, with a 2pm tip-off. The ‘Cuse will look to start 2-0 and make it back to the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row, but this time, can they advance to the Sweet 16?
NEXT UP
The Syracuse women’s basketball team return to the JMA Wireless Dome this Sunday, Nov. 10, against Saint Joseph’s. The Orange are scheduled for a 2pm tip-off on ACC Network Extra.
