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Syracuse started Atlantic Coast Conference play with two daunting matchups. First, the Orange hosted then-No. 10 Notre Dame on Dec. 8. Though SU only trailed by seven at halftime, the Fighting Irish’s lead stretched to 23 in the third quarter and went on to win 93-62.
To start the new year, on Jan. 2, SU traveled to undefeated No. 13 Georgia Tech. Syracuse again was no match, falling 85-68 to the Yellow Jackets. Consequently, SU has already surpassed its regular season loss tally from last season (six) with its seventh loss in Atlanta Thursday.
Next up was another road contest at Florida State Sunday. FSU entered the game 2-0 in ACC play and had only two losses on the season. Despite sporting the second-best offense in the nation and top scorer in Division I in Ta’Niya Latson, FSU couldn’t buy a bucket from 3. The Seminoles, who shoot 36% from 3 (34th in the nation), shot a woeful 1-for-17 from 3 in the first half. As a result, Syracuse held a three-point halftime lead. But the Seminoles went 9-for-17 from 3 in the second half and pulled away.
Here are some observations from Syracuse’s (6-8, 0-3 ACC) 85-73 loss to Florida State (13-2, 3-0 ACC):
Size to start
With usual starter Kyra Wood sidelined for Sunday’s game due to concussion protocol, Syracuse shuffled its starting lineup. Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack opted for more size with Izabel Varejão for the first time since SU’s second game at the Emerald Coast Classic, a loss versus Creighton, on Nov. 26. Alongside Varejão, Saniaa Wilson got her first start of the season. Wilson scored 16 points — including 14 fourth-quarter points — in 14 minutes against Dartmouth on Dec. 21.
Wilson picked up an offensive board and put back a layup to tie the game at 2-2 early. She again cleaned the glass at the 6:56 mark, and got fouled on her put-back attempt.
To close the first half, Journey Thompson scored seven straight points off the bench. She executed a pick and roll with Georgina Woolley, banking in a shot to tie the score at 30. Then, she sunk a close-range jumper off an Angelica Velez feed. The Arizona State transfer cashed in on a layup and sank one free throw to push the Orange ahead at the break.
Still, SU couldn’t match Wood’s production. The biggest contributor was Thompson off the bench with 13 points. Wilson finished with eight points and six rebounds in 19 minutes while Varejão had four points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of action.
Tightening clamps on Ta’Niya Latson
Latson is the best scorer in the NCAA, averaging 28.2 points per game. Her scoring prowess was proven in FSU’s last game, when the junior erupted for a career-high 40 points against Virginia Tech. Latson is a threat from all over with a near-50% 3-point shooter and 51.4% field goal percentage.
Right off the bat, Latson was the center of FSU’s attack, picking up the first points of the game. Despite a turnover and a missed 3, Latson was continuing to be fed the ball, converting a finish in the post and getting fouled, but she couldn’t knock down the ensuing free-throw. Latson, who averages 2.5 steals per game, picked the pocket of Georgia Woolley and netted a fast break layup to score six of the Seminoles’ first eight points.
Latson took up the mantle again to close the first quarter. The Miami native eurostepped to the basket at the 2:43 mark of the first quarter to extend FSU’s 12-0 run. Latson then embraced the contact inside to notch another and-one opportunity and finish the first quarter with 11 of Florida State’s 21 points.
The junior’s impact wasn’t limited to the offensive side of the court. She snuffed out a potential fast break by poking the ball away from Velez on the run. Then, at the 6:12 mark, Latson repelled a two-on-one Syracuse fast break by intercepting a Woolley bounce pass in the paint. But Latson was held scoreless in the second quarter and spent extended periods on the bench after picking up her second foul.
Latson got going quickly to score her first points since the first quarter with a pair of fast-break layups late in the third quarter. But she quickly picked up her fourth foul, putting her on thin ice for the rest of the game. However, Latson sank a big-time 3 in the fourth quarter to keep FSU on track for a win. Though SU reeled FSU in at 78-73, she slammed the door with an and-one play to make it 81-73. She knocked down two more from the charity stripe for 25 points, four rebounds and seven assists on the day.
Orange Turnovers
Turnovers hadn’t been a major issue for SU so far this campaign. The Orange sit in the middle of the pack among Division I teams with 16.5 turnovers per game. But six first-quarter turnovers against FSU afflicted Syracuse and didn’t allow it to gain much offensive rhythm. The issue carried over to the second quarter with eight more giveaways for 14 first-half turnovers.
Woolley got whistled just over three minutes into the game with a travel. Then, SU had five turnovers in under three minutes, part of a 12-0 Seminoles run. Latson stole the ball from Woolley, followed by a Dominique Camp errant pass. That was followed by two turnovers by Woolley and a Velez out-of-bounds heave.
Though Syracuse took the lead in the second quarter, the turnovers continued. On the first possession of the quarter, Burrows tossed the ball out of play. Later, Shy Hawkins couldn’t corral a Velez pass. Woolley, who had six first-half giveaways, was called for pushing off at the 7:46 mark. After turning the ball over seven times in the first six minutes of the second quarter, SU only gave the ball away once more in the quarter, allowing it to take the halftime lead.
Though Syracuse took care of the ball to begin the third quarter, four straight turnovers late in the third allowed FSU to push its lead to 55-48. Despite going on a 9-0 run in the final minutes, a steal disrupted the Orange’s momentum. Ultimately, SU finished with 22 turnovers, the most since its 30 in its season-opener versus UAlbany, and the Seminoles scored 20 points off those turnovers.
Woolley struggles
As its leading scorer, Georgia Woolley’s performance usually dictates Syracuse’s results. Against FSU, Woolley struggled, scoring only 12 points — seven of which were from free throws — while shooting 2-for-16 from the field and committing nine turnovers.
However, the lack of productivity didn’t stop her from trying to find ways to impact the game. She kept putting up shots or generating shots for her teammates. Woolley, who said she wants to focus on her defensive game entering the season, grabbed four steals and was a constant presence on defense, diving on the floor for loose balls.
But Woolley was too aggressive at times, picking up her third foul of the contest with 3:10 to go in the third quarter. The Australian didn’t spend long on the bench after SU turned the ball over twice. Woolley returned and attacked Latson on offense, forcing the FSU star to pick up her fourth foul.
When SU and Woolley needed it most, down a then-game-high eight points in the fourth quarter, Woolley knocked down a 3 from the top of the key — her second made field goal of the game. But Latson answered with a triple of her own on the other end. Woolley’s day finished characteristically with a 3 that rattled the rim.
The post Observations from SU’s loss to Florida State: Starting size, managing Latson appeared first on The Daily Orange.