Syracuse women's basketball bounced from ACC Tournament, but Big Dance awaits 'Cuse

Syracuse women's basketball is out of the ACC Tournament after falling to Louisville on Friday evening in the event's quarterfinal round, 87-61. The Orange, which had lost by 19 points to the Cardinals last month, struggled shooting the ball from the field and beyond the arc, while Louisville exceled in those two categories.

The 'Cuse (23-8 overall), though, shouldn't feel worried about whether it will hear its name called on Selection Sunday (March 15) for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Ahead of SU's game on Friday night at the Gas South Arena in Duluth, Ga., multiple bracketology projections had the Orange anywhere from a No. 8 seed to a No. 10 seed in this spring's Big Dance.

Sure, there could be other bid-stealers out there prior to Selection Sunday, but it would be rather stunning if the 'Cuse didn't receive an at-large berth to March Madness. On Friday, the Orange's NCAA NET ranking stood at No. 38, which is solid.

In the quarterfinals against No. 2 seed Louisville (26-6 overall), No. 7 seed Syracuse women's basketball was without its third-leading scorer, graduate student guard Dominique Darius, who injured her left hand on Thursday when the 'Cuse beat No. 10 seed California, 70-59, in the ACC Tournament's second round. Hopefully, Darius will be good to go for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Syracuse basketball couldn't slow down Louisville's offense.

The Cardinals made 56 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3-point land and just 40 percent from the free-throw line. The Orange connected on 34 percent from the field, a mere 16 percent from long range and 79 percent from the charity stripe.

Louisville held edges of 15-10 in points off turnovers, 43-34 in total rebounds, 40-18 in bench points, 46-30 in paint points, 15-10 in fast-break points and 23-9 in assists. On the flip side, SU led 14-11 in turnovers forced, 13-9 in second-chance points, 6-2 in blocks and 10-9 in steals.

Three Syracuse women's basketball players reached double-figures in scoring. Freshman center Uche Izoje, the ACC's rookie of the year in 2025-26, tallied 22 points and nine rebounds. I hope she's okay. In the second half, she appeared to have rolled her ankle at one point.

Junior guard Sophie Burrows added 12 points and nine rebounds. Freshman forward Jasmyn Cooper contributed 11 points and five boards.