I have only watched Syracuse perform for approximately half of a game while I was scouting Duke. Syracuse led the entire first quarter, but Duke tied the score at the buzzer.
One thing that I have uncovered is that the Orange has weaknesses. When I saw their overall statistics and their 14 victories, I was not too optimistic. Then I decided to investigate their three losses and found at least three potential weak areas that can be exploited.
2025-2026 Syracuse University Women's Basketball
I do not know whether the Bears can take advantage of these, but I will explain why Syracuse suffered three one-sided defeats. Their overall stats are super impressive. They outscore their opponents 74-58 or exactly 15.7 points per game. The Orange out-rebounds these teams by a margin of 9.8 boards per game (43.2-33.4). Their defense forces 20.1 turnovers per game. Syracuse seems to play solid defense and even holds opponents to 4.7 three-point baskets on average.
Michigan throttled Syracuse on a neutral court, 81-55. The Wolverines outscored the Orange in every quarter and outrebounded them, 46-32. Big Blue forced the New Yorkers into 23 turnovers. Va Tech upset 'Cuse on their home court, 77-57. The Hokies outscored the Orange in quarters 1-3 to build that 20 point lead. The two teams tied in rebounds at 39. VT won the battle of ball-handling. Duke outscored Syracuse in NY by 20 points over the final three quarters and won 71-51. The Blue Devils outrebounded the Orange by 48-40. Duke forced Syracuse to commit 19 turnovers. One key development occurred that altered Syracuse's gameplan. Their phenom freshman 6-3 center, Uche Izoje, fouled out in 18 minutes attempting to defend Toby Fournier. The Nigerian's numbers ended up: 8 points + 4 rebounds.
Common factors in the three losses. All three schools shutdown the Orange's high-powered offense and held them to scores in the fifties. None of the three victors were outrebounded by Syracuse. Also, pressure defenses forced Syracuse into an uncharacteristic number of TOs. The Orange is not a prolific outside shooting team either and only averages 4.9 treys per game. When their star big man fouled out, they could not simply alter their offensive strategy.
The head coach, Felisha Legette-Jack, is in her fourth season at the helm. She was a Syracuse All-American as a player that graduated in 1989. Cal survived Syracuse last season in Berkeley, and they only return one starter, Sophie Burrows, a 6-2 Aussie wing. The HC hit the jackpot with some of her new personnel. The Orange are really built around four good players this season.
2025-26 Women's Basketball Roster - Syracuse University Athletics
Their best player is probably Lalia Phelia (#5), a transfer from Texas. She is a senior 6-0 SG who averages 14.0 ppg. Laila has made 25 three-pointers for second best on the Orange and is 3rd on the team in steals with 31. Their freshman 6-3 center, Uche Izoje (#44), has been the surprise player in the ACC this season. She can really jump and has approximately three shot blocks (49) per game. She averages a double-double with 13.4 points and 8.6 rebounds. Their #3 offensive threat is grad transfer PG, 5-10 Dominique Darius (#20), who contributes 11.5 points to the Orange's cause. She generates 3.4 assists per game and is tied for tops in defensive steals with 35. Darius cannot be left alone, or she'll drain a three (14). The only player that I remember from last year is Aussie wing, combo guard, 6-2 junior Sophie Burrows (#4). Last season, she averaged double figures (12 p/g), but so far this year, she averages 9.8 points & 5.1 rebounds. She is tied for the steals lead with 35 and is second is shot blocks w/ 17. Burrows is the designated three-point bomber and is #1 with 27 treys. One should keep an eye on her because she is very streaky! Sophie is an adept ball-handler and distributes 2.5 assists per game.
In summary, without Cal's PG Puff Morris, I doubt that the Bears can pull off this upset. I think that Cal might be able to outrebound Syracuse because we've accomplished that recently. The Bear's defense will have to be at its best to hold the Orange offense in the 50's. I'm not certain that Cal can generated enough offense to prevail.
I believe that it will come down to the battle of the post players. Walker & Ojukwu need to have big games all-around to overcome Uche Izoje's numbers. I will not predict a score because I don't know enough about Syracuse. I'll keep my fingers crossed. GO BEARS!
One thing that I have uncovered is that the Orange has weaknesses. When I saw their overall statistics and their 14 victories, I was not too optimistic. Then I decided to investigate their three losses and found at least three potential weak areas that can be exploited.
2025-2026 Syracuse University Women's Basketball
I do not know whether the Bears can take advantage of these, but I will explain why Syracuse suffered three one-sided defeats. Their overall stats are super impressive. They outscore their opponents 74-58 or exactly 15.7 points per game. The Orange out-rebounds these teams by a margin of 9.8 boards per game (43.2-33.4). Their defense forces 20.1 turnovers per game. Syracuse seems to play solid defense and even holds opponents to 4.7 three-point baskets on average.
Michigan throttled Syracuse on a neutral court, 81-55. The Wolverines outscored the Orange in every quarter and outrebounded them, 46-32. Big Blue forced the New Yorkers into 23 turnovers. Va Tech upset 'Cuse on their home court, 77-57. The Hokies outscored the Orange in quarters 1-3 to build that 20 point lead. The two teams tied in rebounds at 39. VT won the battle of ball-handling. Duke outscored Syracuse in NY by 20 points over the final three quarters and won 71-51. The Blue Devils outrebounded the Orange by 48-40. Duke forced Syracuse to commit 19 turnovers. One key development occurred that altered Syracuse's gameplan. Their phenom freshman 6-3 center, Uche Izoje, fouled out in 18 minutes attempting to defend Toby Fournier. The Nigerian's numbers ended up: 8 points + 4 rebounds.
Common factors in the three losses. All three schools shutdown the Orange's high-powered offense and held them to scores in the fifties. None of the three victors were outrebounded by Syracuse. Also, pressure defenses forced Syracuse into an uncharacteristic number of TOs. The Orange is not a prolific outside shooting team either and only averages 4.9 treys per game. When their star big man fouled out, they could not simply alter their offensive strategy.
The head coach, Felisha Legette-Jack, is in her fourth season at the helm. She was a Syracuse All-American as a player that graduated in 1989. Cal survived Syracuse last season in Berkeley, and they only return one starter, Sophie Burrows, a 6-2 Aussie wing. The HC hit the jackpot with some of her new personnel. The Orange are really built around four good players this season.
2025-26 Women's Basketball Roster - Syracuse University Athletics
Their best player is probably Lalia Phelia (#5), a transfer from Texas. She is a senior 6-0 SG who averages 14.0 ppg. Laila has made 25 three-pointers for second best on the Orange and is 3rd on the team in steals with 31. Their freshman 6-3 center, Uche Izoje (#44), has been the surprise player in the ACC this season. She can really jump and has approximately three shot blocks (49) per game. She averages a double-double with 13.4 points and 8.6 rebounds. Their #3 offensive threat is grad transfer PG, 5-10 Dominique Darius (#20), who contributes 11.5 points to the Orange's cause. She generates 3.4 assists per game and is tied for tops in defensive steals with 35. Darius cannot be left alone, or she'll drain a three (14). The only player that I remember from last year is Aussie wing, combo guard, 6-2 junior Sophie Burrows (#4). Last season, she averaged double figures (12 p/g), but so far this year, she averages 9.8 points & 5.1 rebounds. She is tied for the steals lead with 35 and is second is shot blocks w/ 17. Burrows is the designated three-point bomber and is #1 with 27 treys. One should keep an eye on her because she is very streaky! Sophie is an adept ball-handler and distributes 2.5 assists per game.
In summary, without Cal's PG Puff Morris, I doubt that the Bears can pull off this upset. I think that Cal might be able to outrebound Syracuse because we've accomplished that recently. The Bear's defense will have to be at its best to hold the Orange offense in the 50's. I'm not certain that Cal can generated enough offense to prevail.
I believe that it will come down to the battle of the post players. Walker & Ojukwu need to have big games all-around to overcome Uche Izoje's numbers. I will not predict a score because I don't know enough about Syracuse. I'll keep my fingers crossed. GO BEARS!
