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In SU’s last game against Virginia, it strayed from its tendencies, and it fell by three points. Unlike other games, where the Orange went deep into their bench, Syracuse battled UVA using just eight players, as all five of its starters played at least 34 minutes.

Four days later, against VT, SU head coach Felisha Legette-Jack made sure to rely on her bench. In the first half, Syracuse played 10 of its 13 players, and it scored its most points in a half this season.

After two starters were forced out with injuries, Angelica Velez gave SU a jolt with three assists. In the second half, the Orange were led by Sophie Burrows’ career-high 28 points and held off VT’s comeback effort to secure their third Atlantic Coast Conference victory.

Here are some observations from Syracuse’s (9-13, 3-8 Atlantic Coast) 93-87 win over Virginia Tech (15-8, 6-6 Atlantic Coast):

Early paint dominance

Syracuse led 23-19 after the first quarter behind strong play in the paint.

Twenty seconds into the game, Izabel Varejão went to work and converted a basket on the low post. Two minutes later, SU scored again as Kyra Wood beat her defender inside.

Virginia Tech answered with a couple 3s, but SU battled back to tie the contest at 10-10. Then, the Orange went on a 9-2 run to jump out to a 19-12 lead. During the run, Varejão made a shot on the block through contact.

Wood continued to dominate in the lane, converting off feeds from Velez. Wood got open on a cut for two points down low and grew her tally to eight points with the bucket, helping SU build its largest lead at the time, a nine-point advantage, with a few minutes left in the first quarter.

To start the second quarter, Syracuse went back to scoring inside. Wood, Varejão and Shy Hawkins scored SU’s first eight points, propelling it to a 10-2 run to start the quarter and build a 33-21 lead.

Velez, Hawkins give SU bench boost

In the second quarter, two of SU’s starters were helped off the court. Both Georgia Woolley and Varejão were injured, and Syracuse turned to its bench.

After missing SU’s last game against Virginia, Velez made a difference against Virginia Tech. With Velez running the offense, she got her teammates involved. She found Wood for multiple scores in the first quarter.

Around the nine-minute mark of the second quarter, Velez caught the ball at the top of the key and drove the lane before dishing to Hawkins on the low block. It was Hawkins’ first score since Jan. 19.

Velez’s assist to Hawkins marked her third assist. When Velez was subbed out around the eight-minute mark of the second quarter, SU continued to lean on its bench. Hawkins scored two more points as SU increased its lead to 31-21.

As Woolley and Varejão were forced to miss time, SU didn’t miss a beat. The Orange shot 62.5% in the first half to build a 49-37 lead at halftime. Velez totaled seven points — including a decisive late corner 3 — and five assists, while Hawkins added four points and three rebounds.

Burrows continues to shine

One game after scoring a career-high 22 points, Burrows had another career night.

In the first quarter, Burrows got going as Dominique Camp found her on a cross-court pass for her first triple. On the next possession, Camp found Burrows again for 3, tying the game at 10-10.

To start the game, Burrows made five of her first seven triples. After SU took a 49-37 lead into halftime, VT started the third quarter hot and cut its lead to just seven points. Then, Burrows sank a 3 from the right wing.

Virginia Tech continued to cut into SU’s lead and Burrows responded again. With VT riding a 15-7 run to start the third quarter, Madeline Potts found Burrows at the top of the key for her seventh triple.

During the Hokies’ relentless comeback effort, where they tied the game in the fourth quarter, Burrows continued to step up. With six minutes left, Burrows hit her eighth triple to give SU a five-point cushion. She ended with 28 points, marking her second straight career high.

Stepping up late

Syracuse’s 12-point halftime lead turned into a tie game with under seven minutes left in the contest. The Hokies outscored the Orange 28-21 in the third quarter and started the fourth quarter with another scoring run.

With the game knotted, SU opened up a lead with five straight points on buckets by Wood and Burrows. As the Hokies looked to pull back within reach, Syracuse stepped up on defense. Burrows defended Matilda Ekh and forced a jump ball to get possession back.

The next time down the floor, Wood scored on a layup to increase Syracuse’s lead to seven, but Carleigh Wenzel answered with a triple. SU forced a missed shot on VT’s next trip, and Camp made a deep 2-pointer with 2:34 minutes left.

The Orange led by four with a minute left and didn’t give up their lead. Instead, Velez worked herself into the corner and nailed a triple, marking SU’s 12th 3 of the contest. Then, Woolley blocked Carys Baker, and SU made two free throws as the clock trickled down to hold on for the win.

Published on February 6, 2025 at 8:22 pm

Contact Timmy at: tswilcox@syr.edu | @TimmyWilcox32