Freshman phenom Uche Izoje's double-double propels Syracuse to ACC Tournament win

Led by the Atlantic Coast Conference's rookie of the year in the 2025-26 season, freshman center Uche Izoje, Syracuse women's basketball prevailed in its ACC Tournament second-round game against California by 11 points on Thursday night at the Gas South Arena in Duluth, Ga.

The Orange, with this 70-59 outcome, notched the first ACC Tournament victory for Felisha Legette-Jack in her tenure as the team's head coach. Next up, the 'Cuse (23-7 overall), the event's No. 7 seed, will face No. 2 seed Louisville (25-6 overall) in the ACC Tournament's quarterfinal round on Friday, March 6, beginning at 5:00 pm EST and airing on ESPN2.

Friday's encounter will be a huge challenge for Syracuse women's basketball. Last month, at the JMA Wireless Dome, the Cardinals defeated the Orange rather handily, 84-65.

Izoje, in the victory over the No. 10 seed Golden Bears (19-14 overall), notched 23 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and two steals, although she did also commit eight turnovers. In the 2025-26 season, Izoje has registered 14 double-doubles.

Syracuse women's basketball hung on to conquer Cal on Thursday evening.

As a team, the Orange connected on 47 percent from the field, 40 percent from beyond the arc and 73 percent from the free-throw line. California made 38 percent from the field, just 16 percent from downtown and 72 percent from the charity stripe.

It was a sloppy game, as each squad committed 21 turnovers. In statistical categories, Syracuse women's basketball led 20-15 in points off turnovers, 33-27 in total rebounds, 13-11 in second-chance points, 11-3 in bench points, 36-30 in paint points, 7-2 in fast-break points and 4-0 in blocks.

Both teams had 12 assists. The Golden Beans led 10-9 in steals.

Besides Izoje, senior guard Laila Phelia, an All-ACC second-team performer, contributed 17 points. Junior guard Sophie Burrows, the ACC's Kay Yow scholar-athlete of the year in women's basketball, added 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Orange started out fast against the Golden Bears, holding a 23-7 lead after the first quarter and a 37-16 edge at halftime. However, Cal wouldn't go away, outscoring the 'Cuse 24-13 in the third quarter to make the score 50-40.

In the fourth quarter, California would trim its deficit even further, but ultimately the Orange would hold a one-point advantage in the fourth quarter to come away with an 11-point triumph.

Separately, let's send some positive vibes to Syracuse women's basketball graduate student guard Dominique Darius. She had a rough collision with a Cal player in the third quarter, and Darius didn't return after that. Hope both players are okay.