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In the press conference minutes after Syracuse’s 73-70 upset loss to UAlbany Wednesday, Syracuse head coach Felisha Legette-Jack unleashed an impassioned two-and-a-half-minute opening statement. She called out the fanbase for their low attendance. Then, she confronted the media for their upbeat mood as the players on the podium fought back tears.

Legette-Jack wore her emotion on her sleeve. Her voice was raised. She pounded her fist on the table. She muttered expletives.

On Thursday afternoon, Legette-Jack apologized for her remarks. She noted she valued the “loyal 2,000 fans” that show up at Syracuse games and heard from other fans who said they’d attend more contests. The reigning Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year regretted how she framed her remarks but noted she wanted to send a public message to her players.

Syracuse (3-3, 0-0 ACC) responded emphatically to Legette-Jack’s message. In their first game at the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Florida, against Missouri (5-3, 0-0 Southeast Conference) the Orange exploded offensively for an 82-59 win. The victory advances SU to the Bay Bracket Championship game tomorrow against Creighton, which walloped Wichita State 91-63.

Legette-Jack praised her team’s defense in the win. The head coach noted she has frequently told her team to “hunker down.” Syracuse did just that. In their first four games, the Orange had allowed an average of 76.6 points. Monday, SU allowed 22 points in a back-and-forth first quarter but held the Tigers to 37 points the rest of the way.

“Defense is our mantra, and we’re going to defend like our life depends on it,” Legette-Jack said postgame.

The third-year head coach “loved” when Missouri got past one SU player and another SU defender covered. If the Tigers penetrated the second defender, then a third one was there, Legette-Jack said.

“That’s what it’s going to take. We’re not going to be better than a lot of teams, but we can be one (unit) defensively,” Legette-Jack said. “And if you’re going to go against us, you got to know that there’s going to be layers of defense.”

Legette-Jack’s starting lineup sprung a surprise. Freshman Olivia Schmitt got the nod over fifth-year senior Dominique Camp, who didn’t play at all, for the first start of her collegiate career. Schmitt didn’t score any points but dished seven assists.

Entering the game, Missouri shot 41.1% from 3 — 18th-best in the nation. The Tigers netted two triples early through Grace Slaughter and Ashton Judd to take an 8-1 lead. But Syracuse bounced back to level the score 12-12 at the 4:58 mark. The 11-4 run was capped by a Sophie Burrows 3, prompting a Missouri timeout.

The two teams continued trading baskets. Two Missouri defenders contested Woolley on the outside but she found Burrows to free the pressure. Burrows passed to Kyra Wood inside, who sank a layup. Next time down the floor, Woolley fed a pass to Journey Thompson down low, and the Arizona State transfer scored her sixth point.

As the first quarter expired, Woolley hoisted a half-court shot and was fouled by Nyah Wilson. The Australian headed to the line for three free throws, netting all three. It gave the Orange a 27-22 advantage after one quarter.

After closing the first quarter on a 10-2 run, Syracuse carried over its momentum into the second as Wood put away two easy layups. On the other end, she stuffed Angelique Ngalakulondi’s attempt from the free throw line as the shot clock expired.

In the opening minutes of the second quarter, Izabel Varejão received the ball down low, pump faked — sending Judd jumping past her — and put the layup away for a 33-22 lead. It stretched Syracuse’s run to 16-2. Mizzou called a timeout and Legette-Jack jumped in excitement as she greeted her team returning to the bench.

Though SU faced a two-minute dry spell, its offense finished the first half on the right note. Woolley sent an arcing pass to find Thompson, who made the shot to increase Syracuse’s cushion to 15 points and gave her double-digit points for the first time this season.

With less than 30 seconds left in the first half, Woolley jarred the ball away from Slaughter and then embarked on a fast break. Her pull-up floater was no good, but Wood picked up the offensive rebound and put it back up to give Syracuse a 44-28 halftime lead.

Second-quarter struggles have afflicted SU this season, particularly after playing a strong first quarter. In its losses to Saint Joseph’s, then-No. 11 Maryland and UAlbany, SU outscored the opposition by at least six points in the first but was beaten by a combined 73-35 in the second quarter of those games. Monday, the Orange dominated the second quarter, trouncing the Tigers 17-6 while shooting 18-for-35 (51.6%) in the first half.

“We don’t care what quarter is good or bad, we just want the outcome to be the way it was tonight,” Legette-Jack said.

Entering the second quarter, Legette-Jack recalled Woolley said SU was going to “lock down.” Legette-Jack said Woolley asked her to substitute players who weren’t applying full intensity on defense.

“We didn’t have to make any subs because they (SU’s players) were all flying around,” Legette-Jack said.

Moreover, Legette-Jack complemented Woolley’s performance, saying she “ruffled every single (feather)” during the game. The senior finished with a team-high 17 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals.

To begin the second half, Syracuse increased its lead to 20 with a drive by Burrows, making it 53-33. Soon the cushion had stretched to 25 points, as Saniaa Wilson capped a fast break with a layup with 3:31 to go in the third quarter.

Nearly every shot SU put up went in. The Orange shot 9-for-11 in the third quarter, capped off by a Lexi McNabb triple. Her dad, Donovan McNabb, a former Syracuse and NFL quarterback, did a bow and arrow celebration in the stands following the bucket.

In the fourth quarter, SU was in cruise control. Legette-Jack said SU still felt the sting of losing to UAlbany on a game-winner with 3.5 seconds left. So, Syracuse aimed to put the game out of reach early Monday, and it did.

“Missouri’s a great team, but our kids were on another level today,” Legette-Jack said. “We hunkered down defensively and stopped a really good team.”

Published on November 25, 2024 at 8:04 pm

Contact Nicholas: njalumka@syr.edu