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After Syracuse secured its second Atlantic Coast Conference win, a 67-55 win at Clemson on Jan. 26, it had a week off. In the break, SU head coach Felisha Legette-Jack said her team took the time to get healthy for the second half of its ACC slate.

The Orange returned to action Sunday against Virginia. The Cavaliers entered the game in a similar spot to SU: on the bubble of the top 15 teams that qualify for the ACC Tournament.

There were eight lead changes and five ties in the first half, but SU separated itself with a dominant start to the third quarter. The Orange compiled a 17-4 to begin the third, but Virginia bounced back with a 12-4 run after. In the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers outscored the Orange 18-9, handing them a debilitating loss.

Here are some observations from Syracuse’s (8-13, 2-8 ACC) 70-67 loss to Virginia (12-11, 4-7 ACC) Sunday:

Syracuse 3-pointers

Syracuse has the fifth-worst 3-point percentage in the ACC, making just 31.8% of its efforts. What’s more, SU doesn’t take many triples, attempting a league-low 318 attempts from distance. But SU quickly went to the 3s early against the Cavaliers.

On SU’s first shot of the day, Sophie Burrows nailed a trey from the right wing. Then, Dominique Camp uncorked from the left corner and sank SU’s second 3 of the day less than two minutes into the game.

A lengthy Syracuse possession, featuring two Georgia Woolley offensive rebounds, ended with Burrows burying a corner triple to hand SU a 29-25 lead at the 5:36 mark of the second quarter.

SU went colder for the rest of the first half but kept shooting. It made three of its 12 first-half attempts from distance, nearing its game average of 15.9 3s attempted per game and 5.1 3s made per contest. Off smooth ball movement, Burrows nailed her third triple of the day early in the third quarter, then canned another soon after, getting to her spot on the left wing. The mark surpassed the Australian’s career-high of 18 points, as she finished with 22 points on 4-of-8 3-point shooting. Overall, the Orange shot 6-of-25 from 3, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the Cavaliers.

Varejão and Wood continue post assertion

In SU’s recent victory at Clemson, Kyra Wood and Izabel Varejão each notched double-doubles. Wood scored 16 points and snatched 11 rebounds, while Varejão also put up 16 points to go with 12 rebounds.

Sunday, a 10-2 run by the Orange in the first quarter was catalyzed by the two’s paint presence. Burrows found Wood inside, and she finished the possession with a layup. Next, Varejão cashed in on a close-range shot. They also made their presence felt defensively and on the boards. Then, Camp connected with Wood inside and she made no mistake. Finally, Woolley passed it to Varejão, who produced a slick post move to navigate to the hoop.

Syracuse started the run down 11-6 and finished it tied 14-14. Then, Wood grabbed four first-quarter defensive rebounds while Varejão scrapped to secure boards and hit the floor once to force a jump ball. To start the second quarter, Wood denied a UVA shot inside. Varejão had a rejection of her own later on, sparking a SU fast break score.

At the break, both had stuffed the stat sheet. Wood recorded nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Meanwhile, Varejão managed four points, six rebounds and two blocks. Varejão picked up a Wood missed shot, chiseled out room down low and dropped in a floater. To end the third quarter, Varejão sacrificed her body to notch a charge.

The pair each finished with a productive stat line. Wood had 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Varejão notched eight points and eight rebounds.

Camp holds the controls

On Friday, Legette-Jack said Camp, who has been SU’s primary starting point guard, brings high offensive IQ to the table. The fifth-year senior, who has played for five schools and missed all of last season with an injury, produced five assists in the first seven minutes against UVA.

Camp set up Burrows’ game-opening 3-pointer. She also played an important role as an inbounder, setting up two Burrows mid-range jumpers off dead balls. Camp dished her fifth assist at the 3:04 mark of the first quarter to push SU’s advantage to 20-16. But then, she was substituted and Syracuse didn’t score for the final three minutes of the half, falling behind 23-20.

The Dayton, Ohio, native returned in the second quarter. Though she didn’t serve up any more assists in the quarter, Camp pulled up near the free-throw line and netted a mid-range shot to hand SU a 24-23 edge. Later, with 2:09 left, she raced out in transition after a Burrows steal and converted a layup. She was fouled in the process and capitalized on the three-point play.

Camp ended the first half with eight points — the most in a game since she scored 10 versus Maryland on Nov. 13 in Syracuse’s third game of the season.

2nd-half runs

At the half, SU held a narrow 37-36 lead. By the end of the third quarter, it led 58-52.

Camp began the quarter by picking the pocket of Kymora Johnson. Burrows and Woolley each hit early 3s as the Orange began the quarter on an 8-0 run. Meanwhile, UVA committed three straight turnovers as its soporific offense struggled to get going.

Finally, at the 6:29 mark, the Cavaliers hit their first shot. But it was quickly answered by SU, as it started the quarter on a 17-4 run. Though UVA got going midway through the quarter, finishing it on a 12-4 run.

To start the fourth quarter, it was all Virginia. SU’s comfortable lead evaporated following a 10-2 run from the Cavaliers, as the game sat tied at 62-62 with 6:48 left. The two teams didn’t score for more than two minutes in the middle of the fourth quarter.

Then, Virginia secured three unanswered baskets in quick succession to jump ahead 68-63. As the clock waned below two minutes, Varejão gave Syracuse a boost with a layup. Syracuse had a chance to tie the score when it stood at 70-67, but it missed two 3s on the possession.

Published on February 2, 2025 at 2:08 pm

Contact Nicholas: njalumka@syr.edu | @nalumkal