Observations from Syracuse’s win vs. Wagner: Dominant defense, 3-point barrage
Syracuse made a season-high eight 3-pointers and limited Wagner to a season-low 29 points in its fourth consecutive double-digit victory. Griffin Uribe Brown | Social Media Editor
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Historically, dozens of rappers have attempted to anoint themselves the king of New York, such as Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z and 50 Cent. Through four games, though, it seems the Orange are hell-bent on proving that they are the true kings of New York this season.
Syracuse entered Sunday having hosted three in-state rivals — Stony Brook, UAlbany and Canisius — to open its season, and it secured dominant, double-digit wins over all of them. The Wagner Seahawks, hailing from Staten Island, represented the last in-state rival SU would host before it hit the road to Uncasville, Connecticut for the Invesco QQQ Women’s Showcase.
But the Seahawks weren’t able to threaten the Orange’s claim to the crown at any point on Sunday. SU was dominant from start to finish in its 78-29 win over Wagner, continuing a streak of four double-digit wins over New York foes.
Here are some key observations from Syracuse’s (4-0, Atlantic Coast) 78-29 win over Wagner (1-3, Northeast):
Changing of the (point) guard
Prior to the season, Syracuse assistant coach Khyreed Carter told The Daily Orange that SU would be taking a committee approach to addressing the point guard position. The Orange haven’t truly been able to fill the position since Dyaisha Fair’s graduation, despite recruiting numerous transfers to do so.
In SU’s first three games this season, true freshman Camdyn Nelson had the first chance to establish herself as its starting point guard. But after she struggled to find her offensive rhythm, Syracuse opted to shake up its lineup for the first time all season. Freshman forward Jasmyn Cooper received the start over Nelson, sliding Dominique Darius over to the point.
Early in the first quarter, Darius was responsible for orchestrating SU’s offense, taking the ball up the court and directing the Orange through their offensive sets. She scored four quick points before getting subbed out, but it wasn’t for Nelson.
LSU transfer Angelica Velez entered off the bench to replace Darius, and she played out the remainder of the first quarter as SU’s point guard. While Velez didn’t score a bucket, she did notch three assists to help Syracuse get out to a 22-4 first quarter advantage.
After starting each of the Orange’s first three games, Nelson didn’t play at all in the opening quarter Sunday against Wagner. She entered midway through the second quarter, and she finished the game with a season-low nine minutes.
Akinbolawa awakens
Since transferring to Syracuse from Auburn, Oyindamola Akinbolawa’s presence hasn’t been felt.
The center entered Sunday averaging a team-low 5.0 minutes per game. In the 15 minutes that she’d been on the court, Akinbolawa hadn’t scored a point. She hadn’t registered an assist, steal or block, either. In fact, other than her lone rebound, the only statistical evidence that Akinbolawa was ever on the court for Syracuse this season was the four turnovers and six fouls she had racked up in its first three games.
It was impossible to argue she wasn’t present on Sunday, though. Akinbolawa only played five minutes in the first half, but in those minutes, there’s a strong case to be made that she was the Orange’s most impactful player.
Akinbolawa went 3-4 from the field before the half, scoring her first seven points of the season. She was also a dominant force on the glass, leading SU with five first-half rebounds. Overall, Akinbolawa finished with a season-high nine points and eight rebounds.
Her hot stretch was punctuated by a layup over Wagner forward Raneem Elbarky in the second quarter. Despite getting fouled, Akinbolawa got her shot off over Elbarky, and she sunk her ensuing free throw to complete the three-point play.
Return of the 3-ball
The 3-pointer was the last shot on the Orange’s mind in their 96-72 win over Canisius.
Syracuse went the entirety of the first quarter without attempting a 3 against the Golden Griffins. The Orange made just three shots beyond the arc, and they had a season-low nine 3-point attempts. Laila Phelia said SU’s coaching staff had emphasized prioritizing midrange and paint looks to combat its 3-point shooting struggles this season.
But on Sunday, the 3-point shot returned to Syracuse’s arsenal in full force. The Orange shot five 3s in the first quarter alone, with Phelia and Sophie Burrows each making one in the frame. SU didn’t make another shot beyond the arc before the half, but with eight 3-point attempts, it nearly matched its total from Tuesday in one half alone.
Syracuse continued to look for the 3-ball coming out of the half. Phelia got the party started with a 3-pointer early in the third quarter, getting fouled on the play for an and-1 opportunity. She converted her free throw for a four-point play, and the 3s kept coming from there.
Coming off the bench, Madeline Potts chipped in with her first 3-pointer of the season with four minutes left in the third. And in her first appearance of the season, Olivia Schmitt made two 3-pointers to cap off SU’s victory. Overall, the Orange attempted a season-high 22 3s, and made a season-high eight of them.
Defensive dominance
Entering Syracuse’s matchup against Canisius, the Golden Griffins hadn’t scored more than 40 points in a single game. The Orange, on the other hand, hadn’t conceded more than 50 points in a game. It seemed like the perfect recipe for another defensive masterclass from SU.
Then, it allowed Canisius to shatter its previous season high by 32 points. The Orange scored a season-high 96 points, but head coach Felisha Legette-Jack was more focused on the other end of the ball after the win.
“I’m working on our player-to-player defense as we move forward,” Legette-Jack said postgame.
Whatever work she put in came to fruition on Sunday. The Orange allowed a season-low 29 points to Wagner, smothering its guards on the perimeter and its posters in the paint. Nine SU players registered steals. The Orange forced Wagner into 23 turnovers, and they limited them to a paltry 20.0% field goal percentage.
It was the best defensive performance of Legette-Jack’s tenure by a wide margin, and with a 49-point margin of victory, it was also the biggest win of her tenure as SU’s head coach.
