Five Takeaways: Syracuse 83 Clemson 82
Syracuse completed the 19-point comeback, the largest of the FLJ Era on Sunday afternoon over the Clemson Tigers. Here are my five takeaways from the game:
1. Dyaisha Fair
I think one is quite obvious, but the 5th-year guard had a day that she will never forget inside the JMA Wirless Dome against the Tigers. Fair scored just two points in the first half, but went ballistic in the fourth quarter to become the 16th player in NCAA D1 Women’s Basketball history to score 3,000 career points. Syracuse was down all afternoon long, but once Fair secured the record, it provided extra motivation for her teammates to ensure the Orange walked away with the win.
Fair admitted to me prior to the game that she did feel pressure about scoring 14 points to reach 3K, and it showed in the first half going 1-8 from the field. Head coach Felisha Leggette-Jack ordered Fair to continue shooting during the halfitme break, and a three-pointer in the waning seconds of the third quarter provided a spark of confidence. It wasn’t just the 14 points in the final frame that made Fair’s performance so impressive, but the on-ball defense and passing as well. The selflessness to pass to down 82-81 to Alyssa Latham for the game-winning bucket exemplifies why she’s such a special talent.
2. All-Around Effort
Every player who checked in for Syracuse was needed to pull off the comeback against Clemson. The Tigers entered at 8-8 and 1-3 in ACC Play, but have been in the thick of every game late during their recent three-game losing skid. With Amari Robinson fested down low in a career-high 37 point performance, Syracuse had to somehow flip momentum… which looked pretty bleak. According to ESPN Analytics, with 9:40 left in the fourth quarter, Clemson had a 95.1% chance to win, up 66-53.
SU strung together great defensive possessions which turned into instant offense on the other end. A team that has shown the ability to will their way back in the non-conference slate versus Cornell showed they can do it in conference play as well. Syracuse is now 10-0 at home this season and should receive more votes in the AP Top 25 with a prime opportunity against a ranked Florida State squad coming off an upset of Virginia Tech to get back into the poll.
3. Alaina Rice
The longest tenured player in the program has been quiet offensively over the past month or so, but was the only scoring threat for most of the day. Rice started the season with six-straight 10+ point performances, but only had one entering the day since (12 versus St. Francis (PA). The 5th-year guard netted 16 points in 21 minutes, shooting 5-9 from the field and 3-4 from three. The energy Rice plays with provoked a response form some of her teammates to step up in the second half and that’s exactl what you want from one of your leaders who sets an example. She didn’t play as much late in the contest being subbed out with 6:14 to go for defensive matchups, but Rice’s play should not go unnoticed.
4. Georgia Woolley
Coach Leggette-Jack told me a story when Woolley took a three on the right wing inches from her on Thursday at Wake Forest and before the shot when into the basket said, “she’s back.” Woolley went 7-10 from the field against the Demon Deacons, and with 14 points on Sunday makes it 10 double-digit point totals in her last 13 games. The Aussie is known for her shooting from the outside, but really excelled on the dribble-drive getting buckets to fall in the lane.
What makes Woolley stand out is her defensive prowess on the perimeter and her fearlessness to do whatever she can to help her team. Postgame FLJ said that Woolley is the “hardest working player that she has ever coached” a bold claim and shows how impactful Georgia has been in her career. She had six steals and shut down whoever she was guarding like Day Harris and Ruby Whitehorn.
5. Kyra Wood
She only had about five minutes on the floor entering the fourth quarter, but Wood played angry late in the game. An undersized big was impactful on the offensive glass with five rebounds putting up shots on the second chance. Wood had THREE and-1’s in the fourth and competed the final three point play to take the lead late. Big shoutout to the second-year captain.
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