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When Syracuse women’s basketball tipped off its nonconference slate a month and a half ago, it would’ve been difficult to see a reality where the Orange made it through without flinching. While the majority of the schedule featured mid-major schools from the Northeast, SU had its share of competition in the early going.

It began with a Power Five test against Utah at the Invesco QQQ Women’s Showcase in November, which the Orange passed with flying colors. Despite a crushing loss to then-No. 6 Michigan a few days later, SU responded with a narrow overtime win over Auburn.

“We put a schedule together that does something competitive, but also an opportunity to have success,” head coach Felisha Legette-Jack said.

With nonconference play wrapping up, the Orange emerged from their first 12 games about as unscathed as they could’ve hoped. A Friday morning pummeling of Mercyhurst was a fitting way to end a relatively dominant stretch.

Syracuse (11-1, 1-0 ACC) destroyed Mercyhurst (0-11, Northeast) 106-40 Friday in its regular season nonconference finale. It’s the most points SU’s scored in a game all year, and its largest scoring output since Nov. 5, 2024, against Niagara. It’s also Syracuse’s largest victory under Felisha Legette-Jack, surpassing a 49-point win over Wagner earlier this year. The Orange are now tied with the 2023-24 NCAA Tournament team for their best start to a season under Legette-Jack.

“I want these young ladies to leave here and understand that they are doing something different that hasn’t happened in a long time,” Legette-Jack said. “We’re putting Syracuse women’s basketball back on the map.”

Syracuse had all 14 active players see minutes, totaling a season-high 59% field goal percentage. Freshman center Uche Izoje feasted inside for a career-high 23 points and added 11 rebounds.

Against Mercyhurst, one of the statistically worst teams in Division I, the domination — particularly down low — was bound to happen. The Lakers entered Friday allowing the highest field goal percentage in the country at 53.8%, while also rebounding worse than any other D-I team, hauling in just 25.4 total boards a game.

The Orange attacked those deficiencies from the get-go. After Sophie Burrows nailed a 3 on SU’s first possession, SU pushed inside the arc, feeding Izoje in the post while Laila Phelia dominated in the mid-range.

A couple of fast break buckets and another Burrows 3 put Syracuse up 17-5 through four minutes. SU’s pace of play made it impossible for the Lakers to keep up from end to end.

“I feel like playing at a fast pace is our (identity),” forward Shy Hawkins said. “We’re athletic, we’re fast and that’s how we get a lot of our points in transition. Keeping up the pace is our goal for the rest of our games.”

Mercyhurst received a scoring boost from sophomore forward Erica Hall, who tallied eight points in 10 first-quarter minutes. But the Orange closed the quarter on a 15-7 run, capped with a miraculous Angelica Velez buzzer-beating triple, where she stepped through two defenders and threw up an awkward shot that improbably found the net. It helped SU end the quarter up 32-12, while shooting a whopping 70% from the field in the first frame.

To pull off an unlikely upset, the Lakers needed the 3-ball to fall early and often. But through one quarter, Mercyhurst was just 2-of-6 from deep, which turned into a 6-of-33 mark by the game’s end.

Instead, the Orange were the ones heating up from deep. Burrows’ two early 3s and Velez’s late shot contributed to seven total makes from beyond the arc. The 43.8% mark was SU’s most efficient game from deep this season. But Syracuse was equally as efficient with its mismatches in the paint.

Mercyhurst didn’t have a starter over 6-foot on Friday. Syracuse’s lineup had four players taller than that. Izoje was the main beneficiary, pouring in 11 first-quarter points against a smaller frontcourt. SU had 30 first-half points in the paint and hauled in 10 offensive rebounds.

SU got deep into the bench in the second quarter, throwing in five substitutes. Madeline Potts made the biggest impact, nailing 2-of-4 3s and hitting one shot from inside the arc, nearly surpassing her season-high with eight points in the second quarter alone. She finished with 11 on 4-of-6 shooting.

Potts was among 11 Syracuse players to score in the first half, contributing to a 64.1% overall field goal percentage. It helped SU take a 58-24 advantage into the break.

The Orange were in cruise control for most of the second half. SU dominated the second quarter, outscoring Mercyhurst 27-8 in the frame. The starters did most of the scoring, as Izoje poured in five points while Hawkins and Dominique Darius scored two buckets each. Off the bench, freshman Jasmyn Cooper added two and-1 buckets, adding to her season-high seven points.

SU ended the quarter on a 12-0 run, capped with another buzzer-beating 3, this time a leaning shot from Potts from about 30 feet out. It gave the Orange a 53-point advantage entering the final frame.

Throughout the fourth quarter, as SU extended its monstrous lead, Izoje capped off her fourth double-double of the season with two more inside buckets and four additional rebounds.

A deep 3 from Olivia Schmitt helped the Orange crack the century mark for the first time this season with four and a half minutes to play. Keira Scott reached a season-high of 10 points with two free throws right after, capping her first-career double-double. It helped Syracuse close the game with a commanding 106-40 win, SU’s largest under Legette-Jack.

Looking back on the first 12 games of the campaign, Legette-Jack remained resolute in her goals for the program. At SU’s Media Day in October, she said the expectation is always to be competing for a championship.

At that time, the Orange were still in the shadow of last year’s 12-18 season. That goal seemed almost laughable. Now, her team has nearly matched that win total already, and they’re not even in the thick of conference play.

Friday’s game was one Syracuse was expected to win easily. Still, the Orange looked perhaps even more dominant than anyone could’ve foreseen. It’s an encouraging sign heading into SU’s ACC gauntlet, which will demand far more than most of SU’s nonconference foes.

But for now, the Orange can rejoice in a stunning start. And they hope it won’t be the last celebration during a season suddenly filled with promise.

“Each and every person that’s connected with this program has really helped us get to this point,” Legette-Jack said. “We certainly want to continue on. We certainly want to get the postseason. We certainly want to win the ACC Championship.”

“Right now, we celebrate the fact that we put a (nonconference) schedule together and we thought we could have success, and we really did a fantastic job.”

Published on December 19, 2025 at 12:38 pm
Contact Harris: harrispemberton@gmail.com | @HarrisPemb6