Syracuse Basketball: Orange women's hoops plays with fight and determination

Early this month, I highlighted the schedule that the Syracuse Orange women’s basketball team faced in January. I emphasized there would be challenges playing so frequently plus a tough ACC schedule.

And the Orange started off with two losses to ranked Georgia Tech and Florida State. Both scores failed to show that, at times, the Orange did play close, but both opponents eventually pulled away.

Then the Orange faced SMU at home on Education Day in a game that started at 10:15 am. The Orange looked like they had it but SMU hit big shots to force overtime and won 72-71 in a hard-fought battle on a tough shot that rattled around the rim before going in (a game that would have been highly attended if not for school cancellations, but I did enjoy hearing the kids excited when Cuse made their shots).

And then this past Sunday, the Orange faced an 11-4 Miami Hurricanes team. Syracuse led most of it but at times, Miami kept themselves in the game until the end when the Orange won 66-61.

Syracuse women's basketball won its first ACC game this season.

Now I’m sure the pessimistic or the fans who “are just being real” will say that’s a 1-3 record and I get it. But the thing about actually watching/listening to the games versus only caring about records and stats is that they don’t always tell the full story. And to some fans, that’s all that matters but I think to take that viewpoint is like seeing a car and assuming it will or won’t be a good or bad car without driving it and seeing how it actually drives by actually driving it.

I listen to the games. I listen to the post-game press conferences. I listen to interviews and such when I can from players and staff. And I’m not an expert nor am I humble bragging about being more educated because I do listen to all of it. I’m sharing this to tell you that if you take a little time to look past the stats, you’ll see a team filled with grit and fight.

Syracuse started strong against the ranked Georgia Tech team even leading at the end of the first half but sadly as the game progressed, the Jackets showed why they’re a ranked team and defended their home court well.

The SMU game was tough. Cuse had it even without Kyra Wood who was out due to concussion protocol and I think with her, would have pulled away and won it. SMU though hit shots when it mattered especially late in overtime as the hot-handed Georgia Woolley unfortunately started going cold but was absolutely trying to be the leader she’s shown herself to be on many occasions.

And beating a quality Miami team (who are now 11-5 after the loss to Cuse) at home 3 days after a heartbreaking, hard-fought overtime loss against the SMU Mustangs, this Orange team showed a lot of heart and fight. They didn’t just mail it in writing it off to an opponent with a better record after being tired and even when Miami continued to play it close, Cuse kept fighting and finally pulled away in the end.

Now let me make this clear: I love this team! I love head coach Felisha Legette-Jack! I think this program deserves more love from fans and the community including myself. And I am a self-confessed homer!

So you may be saying to yourself that you think I am only writing this for this reason. And while I admit, I prefer to avoid writing negative stories about the programs I am a fan of, if I did not feel this way, I would not write it.

I do not just make up stuff to write or have quotas...I was not asked to write a story on the team by anyone...and I do believe in the "if you can't say something nice or at least be constructive, don't say anything at all" theory but I write this because I believe this team is playing hard like Coach Jack wants...I believe they are pulling a John Wayne and showing "True Grit"...I believe they are playing competitively and I believe they can and will win many more games this year as long as they can stay healthy and keep fighting hard like I have seen them do.