SU pulls out dominant win over Stony Brook for season opener

The Syracuse women’s basketball team opened its season at home in the JMA Wireless Dome with Stony Brook last night and ended with a win 74-50. With the win, head coach Felisha-Legette Jack acquired her 400th win over her legendary career.  SU looks to have more success than last season after going only 12-18, and with the new help under Jack, the Orange have more momentum moving into the rest of the season.

“I got so many opportunities at so many different places, first Hofstra, then Buffalo, the last place I want to coach at is here at my alma mater.” Jack said. 

Syracuse was red hot out of the gate, going up 22-8 in the first quarter, and holding Stony Brook to less than 10 points in the first. The last time this happened for the Seawolves was March 6th 2025 where they scored 8 points against Hofstra. The Orange kept this energy up, taking a 16 point lead into halftime, 37-21.

In the third quarter, the Seawolves shocked Syracuse and went on a 6-0 run for almost two minutes, leaving the Orange scoreless for that time and cutting the lead to just 5, 42-37. SU quickly snapped that streak and went on a 10-0 run to end the third, keeping Stony Brook scoreless. Syracuse broke away in the fourth and made it known that this was its game to win and help set the tone for this season.

After three seasons at Michigan and half of a season at Texas, graduate transfer student Laila Phelia has made all the difference for SU. Scoring 12 points on 41.7% from the field, she is truly a different type of presence on the floor. Phelia is the spark needed for the Orange to prosper in a stacked ACC conference.

“We have Laila on our team and sometimes you just have to give her the ball and get out of the way. It is such a gift to coach a player like her.” Coach Jack said.

The Orange were dominant inside the paint, out-rebounding Stony Brook 52 to 27, really proving they are legit on the boards.

 “We are back. Last year we didn’t do that well enough but we are back… it has to mean more than just a game it has to mean ‘my dreams are in the balance’. Anybody can be a great rebounder.” Coach Jack said.

In addition to the success inside the paint, the Orange were aggressive on the defensive side of the ball, doubling the Stony Brook blocks, 6 to 3. Two of those blocks came from none other than freshman Uche Izoje. The 6 ‘3 center from Nigeria has made her impact known quickly and can also get it done on the offensive end, scoring 11 points. Coach Jack speaks highly of the new coming of Izoje.

“She’s special. Paige Bueckers special, Hannah Hidalgo special … she just has to play. We have to figure out why she couldn’t play.” Jack said. “Our team looks way different this year, why can’t Syracuse be better?”

One may question how Syracuse shot 8.3% from three tonight, and the lowest single-game three point percentage under Jack. She is not worried about her team not being able to shoot the three and still thinks this was not an outlier, even having primarily all of their points scored in the paint.

 “We’re going to take those shots and we’re going to make those shots, we can shoot the three ball,” Jack said. “I really believe, leave us open, but when they don’t go in we have to adjust, and we did a great job adjusting.”

With hopes high, and a big accomplishment for Coach Jack and the Syracuse women’s basketball team, its season opener was a success. The Orange are in for a new test in their second contest when the Albany Great Danes stroll into the JMA Wireless Dome. The Danes are coming off a dominant season last year, going 26-7, losing in the American East championship. 

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on Nov. 7.