Syracuse women’s basketball continues hot start with win over Siena

Three games into the season, the identity for Syracuse women’s basketball has become clear: dominate the paint and cause chaos defensively. Both were on full display in their third straight win against the Siena Saints 82-58 on Wednesday night at the JMA Wireless Dome.

But at times, SU lost focus, especially in the first half. This was a close game early on in the second quarter, with SU only up 30-28, and Coach Felisha Legette-Jack was not a fan of her team’s discipline.

“We got to stop fouling, stop reaching,” Legette-Jack said. “We have to clean that up.”

However, the Orange picked up their intensity and closed the half on a 15-5 run, and rode that momentum for the rest of the game. 

“We didn’t start the way we were supposed to, but once we started being intentional, that’s when the game changed,” Emely Rodriguez said. 

Star center Uche Izoje led the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds, but the supporting cast full of newcomers shined for Syracuse. Sarah Rambus, Emely Rodriguez, and Jaleesa Molina. This is an Orange squad with many new faces, but they have wasted no time making their impact felt early. 

“I feel like we did a good job of playing off of each other, especially Emely [Rodriguez],” Rambus said. “It really helps us as a team.”

The Orange also forced 22 turnovers for the Saints and had 35 points off of those turnovers. That is something that has contributed to this team’s early success, but for Coach Legette-Jack, she thought that number should have been higher.

“I thought we were supposed to get 45,” Legette-Jack said. “But I think we will continue to get better at it.”

The constant ball pressure made it tough for the Saints to generate offense, as they only shot 36 percent from the field for the game and scored just 25 points in the second half.

It led to them falling to 1-3 on the season, and head coach Terry Primm lamented the fact that they lost control of the glass and the turnover battle as well.

“They put a lot of pressure on us,” Primm said. “That’s a tournament team over there and these are the kind of games you want to win, it just didn’t happen for us.”

For Syracuse, the goal is to make sure they build good habits throughout this nonconference slate, so that they are peaking by the time ACC play begins later this winter.

“In order to get better, you have to make mistakes. That is how you learn and that is what this stretch will help us with,” Legette-Jack said.

Syracuse’s next game will be against Canisius Sunday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome.