Syracuse women’s basketball uses dominant 1st quarter to thrash Colgate 88-42
Syracuse jumped out to a 24-5 lead after the first quarter and never looked back in its 88-42 thrashing of Colgate Wednesday. Joe Zhao | Senior Staff Photographer
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Syracuse’s calling card this season has been its first quarter success.
In its season opener against Stony Brook on Nov. 4, SU outscored the Seawolves 22-8 in the first frame en route to a convincing 74-50 win. Three days later, the Orange held UAlbany to just four points in the first frame, leading to a 64-45 victory.
That continued in their next two games against fellow New York opponents, especially against Wagner on Nov. 16. In a historically dominant 49-point win, SU’s largest of the Felisha Legette-Jack era, it got off to a 22-4 early advantage and never looked back.
It’s uncertain whether the Orange can sustain those hot starts in the bulk of Atlantic Coast Conference play, but Syracuse’s ability to set the tone early continued Wednesday against Colgate.
Syracuse (9-1, 1-0 ACC) thrashed Colgate (4-6, Patriot League) 88-42 Wednesday night in large part due to a stellar start. The Orange led 24-5 after the first quarter and didn’t look back, resulting in their second-largest win of the season. Uche Izoje notched a team-high 16 points, while Sophie Burrows added 13.
“(The hot start) definitely helped us coming out, gaining our confidence,” guard Madeline Potts said.
It’s safe to say Burrows hasn’t been herself to start the season. After having a 39.6% 3-point clip last season, she entered Wednesday shooting a woeful 20% from beyond the arc. In Syracuse’s lone loss to then-No. 6 Michigan on Nov. 22, Burrows went 0-for-7 from deep, prompting serious concerns.
But she turned it around with a season-high 22 points against SMU on Sunday. On Wednesday, she led the charge for SU in another dominant first quarter.
Up 2-0, Shy Hawkins nabbed a steal and dished it to Burrows for a look from downtown. She nailed it, just the start of an efficient night for the Australian.
“It’s been really weird her not scoring for everybody in the stands and in the media because that’s what we expect from her,” Legette-Jack said. “Now that her shot is falling, we figured it’s like ‘It’s what she does. It’s who she is.’’
“I think that there’s only one person that knows this system better than me, and that’s Sophie Burrows,” Legette-Jack added.
From there, Syracuse took off.
Two Laila Phelia 3s. A Burrows jumper. Stifling defense. The Raiders didn’t get on the board until the 4:14 mark of the first quarter.
SU forced turnovers. It got back in transition. It hit open shots. In short, it was about as flawless a start as Syracuse could’ve hoped for.
Angelica Velez has had an inconsistent start to Year 2 in orange. She’s had glimpses of stardom, such as nine assists against Howard on Nov. 30, but also games where she’s been as silenced, including the Utah and Wagner contests.
But a buzzer-beater to end the first quarter Wednesday was a microcosm of SU’s scorching hot start. After a Laila Hankerson turnover, Velez turned around and drained a jumper as the buzzer sounded.
The Orange never looked back.
Just like SU’s first four games of the season, Syracuse’s strong start dictated the tone for the rest of the game. While Colgate hung around early in the second quarter, SU built off the first frame and only built its lead throughout the night.
Syracuse’s offensive onslaught and hot start allowed Legette-Jack to empty her bench in the second half. Although Colgate’s deficit was already insurmountable, SU’s bench extended its advantage even further.
Nobody played more than 20 minutes in the game while 13 players saw double-digit minutes, including guard Madeline Potts, who’s had a turbulent start to her sophomore campaign.
Potts entered the game just 3-for-14 on the year, including a 2-for-8 outing against Wagner. But due to the lead SU built in the first quarter, Potts had her chance to shine in the second half.
She took advantage of it, notching a season-high 10 points on an efficient 4-of-6 from the field. Potts looked poised all game, took smart shots and even added three rebounds.
“I love what Maddie did. She came out ready to go,” Legette-Jack said.
Legette-Jack may not have the fortune of emptying her bench as SU heads into ACC play. Syracuse won’t be up by 40 every fourth quarter.
But if Wednesday was any indication, SU’s strong starts this season have allowed Legette-Jack to experiment with different lineup combinations – which may prove crucial down the stretch.
