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As Syracuse searched for its first win in Atlantic Coast Conference play against Florida State, it was without its second-leading scorer. Kyra Wood was absent from SU’s lineup for the first time this season due to entering concussion protocol late in its last game, the ACC Network broadcast said.
In response, head coach Felisha Legette-Jack plugged senior Saniaa Wilson into the starting five for the first time this season. Wilson propelled the Orange to an early 9-4 lead, and Syracuse’s bench helped it take a 35-32 advantage into halftime.
Though, just as Syracuse’s (6-8, 0-3 ACC) early lead vanished against Georgia Tech, it relinquished its lead to Florida State (13-2, 3-0 ACC). The Orange were outscored by 11 in the third quarter, resulting in an 85-73 loss, their third conference loss this season.
“That third quarter got away from us,” Legette-Jack said. “Last game was the second quarter, this game was the third quarter, so we gotta adjust a little bit more.”
SU is not a stranger to falling apart in a single frame. In Syracuse’s first conference game, a 93-62 trumping by then-No.10 Notre Dame, it was outscored by 16 in the third quarter. Now, the Orange have been outscored by double digits in a single quarter in all three ACC contests.
Syracuse has shown it can stay with its conference foes early, but lapses after the first quarter have made the difference. Against Florida State, SU received strong play from its bench to give it a strong first half. Journey Thompson and Madeline Potts were key scorers early, and Angelica Velez finished with a season-high 10 assists. However, it wasn’t enough to stop the NCAA’s leading scorer, Ta’Niya Latson, who led FSU with 25 points.
Wilson got SU going with four points and four rebounds in the first four minutes, but she picked up two early fouls and was subbed out at 5:56 in the first quarter. That’s when the Seminoles picked up steam and scored the next eight points to take a 14-9 lead.
Syracuse’s starting guards couldn’t help SU find any momentum. Sophie Burrows, who shot just 2-of-11 against Georgia Tech, missed a wide-open layup. On the next possession, Georgia Woolley was called for a traveling violation.
The Seminoles went on a 12-0 first-quarter run before Dominique Camp ended it at the 2:07 mark with a jumper. Soon after, Velez found Thompson for a layup, cutting FSU’s lead to 19-15. But, the Orange’s run was cut as the Seminoles answered right back to stretch their lead to six.
With Wood unable to play, more pressure was put on Woolley, SU’s leading scorer, to ignite the offense. However, Woolley missed her first three shots and didn’t score until midway through the second quarter. With Syracuse trailing 25-17, Woolley drew a foul on a 3-pointer and converted all three free throws to cut the deficit to five.
Then, Potts came through, delivering two triples to give Syracuse a 26-25 lead. Potts entered the game fourth on SU in 3-pointers despite playing a measly 7.3 minutes per game. Her success from behind the arc against the Seminoles has been part of a recent stretch where she netted multiple 3s against Binghamton and Dartmouth at the end of nonconference play.
Syracuse continued to receive scoring from players who don’t usually contribute. After FSU retook the lead at 30-28, Thompson percolated. The Orange’s guards poured the ball into Thompson on the post as she scored seven straight SU points to help SU enter halftime ahead 35-32. Thompson’s strong scoring day came after a position change different from her time at Arizona State.
“She’s starting to fall in love with (the new position) a little bit, and I’m really proud of that,” Legette-Jack said.
But things still weren’t clicking for Woolley. Early in the second half, she searched for her first field goal of the game following an 0-of-5 first half. She took two mid-range jumpers that went in and out and threw her head back in frustration.
Meanwhile, the Orange and Seminoles traded baskets, putting FSU up 41-39. Velez, who matched her season-high in assists with five in the first half, got Woolley going. She threaded the needle to the senior on the fast break for a layup to tie the game. Then Woolley earned a trip to the stripe for another two points.
Woolley’s presence faded, and SU’s offense continued to run through its bench. Thompson made another layup, and Potts stroked her third triple of the contest, cutting the Orange’s deficit to 49-48.
But, Syracuse’s inexperience on the floor began to show late in the third quarter. Velez and Burrows each turned the ball over, as SU totaled five turnovers in the frame. The Seminoles also turned up their shooting touch from deep. After going 1-of-17 in the first half from 3, they made five triples in the third. The quick turn led FSU to outscore Syracuse 28-17 in the frame. Legette-Jack and the Orange couldn’t come up with an answer.
“Eight of those (third-quarter) points I thought we could’ve stopped, but the rest of them, they were just really good,” Legette-Jack said.
Early in the fourth, Woolley provided some positive signs with a triple, her second made shot of the contest, to cut SU’s deficit to five. Though the floodgates opened for FSU.
Latson matched Woolley with a 3 on the other end, sparking an 11-2 Florida State run. O’Mariah Gordon and Mariana Valenzuela added triples, lifting FSU ahead 71-57 with seven minutes left.
Facing its largest deficit, Syracuse brought the game within five behind a 9-0 run late in the fourth. But, Makayla Timpson and Gordon combined for 12 fourth-quarter points, preventing it from making a comeback.
Still, Legette-Jack saw many positives in the loss despite SU’s repeated issues.
“I like what we’re building, I like what we’re becoming and these kind of mishaps make us better down the stretch,” Legette-Jack said.
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