Syracuse Blows Out Saint Francis to Finish Non-Conference Slate
On SU’s annual School Day Game, with thousands of local elementary and middle school students from schools all around the greater Syracuse area in attendance, women’s basketball ended their regular season play in a 85-43 runaway win over Saint Francis PA.
The Orange got off to a hot start on both ends of the court, scoring the first 23 points of the game, holding the Red Flash scoreless for nearly the entire 1st quarter.
Full court pressure from the Orange overwhelmed the Red Flash of Saint Francis forcing 8 turnovers, The Red Flash seeing their first points on the scoreboard with 2:06 remaining in the first quarter. Finishing the quarter with 6 points to Cuse’s 26.
“Our press was intentional,” said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. “We are trying to figure out who we are … what do we stand for (defensively).”
By the end of the first half, Dyaisha Fair, Alaina Rice, and Georgia Woolley had all reached double figures in scoring. At the end of the contest, Alyssa Latham finished with 12 points and Kyra Wood had 11.
Leading all scorers this morning with 19 points, coming off a 23 point season high display against Cornell, the first time she had been able to play in front of her family. Australian native, Georgia Woolley, set yet another milestone in front of her loved ones.
With 4:40 left in the 4th quarter, Woolley made her third and final three of the morning, scoring her 1,000 career point in just her junior year of collegiate play. Her arms flared in the air as the ball met the bottom of the net, looking to her bench who were on their feet in cheers.
“ I put a lot of work in to get to this point, but none of this is possible if my teammates don’t pass me the ball,” said Woolley. “I give this all to them and my coaching staff … They give me the confidence to be their scorer on this team, so I just thank everyone around me for what I was able to achieve.”
Woolley was met with a hug from head coach Felisha Legette-Jack as she was subbed out for the last time in the game. Coach Jack expressed how far Wolley has come.
“Georgia has been great from day one,” said Coach Jack. “She doesn’t have to do it by herself anymore like when she was in Australia … and she’s recognized that and really grown.”
This is just the second game Woolley’s family has been able to see in-person and one of many of her incredible feats so far this season.
The Wooden Award Watch List player, Dyaisha Fair, had a monumental morning of her own as she moved to 20th overall in the history of women’s college basketball scoring. Surpassing former Villanova player, Maddie Siegrest.
Thursday’s game was the second most attended game in program history for the Orange, with 9,109 fans cheering in the stands. Second to last season against Notre Dame which had 11,000 people in attendance, an opponent the Orange will see before the New Year.
“We love giving the kids an opportunity to come to the game,” said Kyra Wood. “Things like this, not just kids day, women’s basketball deserves that same attention and attendance. We love having that energy.”
The win is Syracuse’s seventh in a row and its 26th-consecutive win against a non-conference opponent in the Dome.
Headed into ACC play, Syracuse now 10-1 has the second best record in the conference being North Carolina State who stands at 12-0.
The Orange will face their first ACC opponent, Notre Dame on New Year’s Eve. Notre Dame is 8-1 on the season, their only loss coming from number one ranked South Carolina. The Orange will battle The Fighting Irish in the Dome at 2PM.
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