A new Syracuse Orange women’s basketball season is underway, and the team opened the year on Tuesday handling business as expected.
Syracuse cruised to a 28-point season-opening win at home against Sacred Heart, moving to 1-0 on the young season. Here are three takeaways from victory number one of 2026-27:
“Final” rotation is still TBD
The early non-con games where Syracuse has the clear talent advantage usually lead to big leads and tons of opportunity across the roster.
Coach Felisha Legette-Jack certainly went deep into her bench
against Sacred Heart. All 13 players saw minutes on Tuesday, with 11 playing at least 13 minutes. Uche Izoje (team-high 16 points and 14 rebounds) led the team in minutes with just 24.
Two initial thoughts on playing time:
- Keira Scott and Sarah Rambus opening the year as the starting forwards was certainly notable. Rambus scored 12 points in 15 minutes. Scott played 18 minutes, which is one of the higher marks in her Syracuse career.
- The guard rotation will be something FLJ will likely be sorting out during the early part of the non-con schedule. Tyi Skinner (11 points and 5 assists) and Emely Rodriguez (13 pints on 5/11 shooting) are the clear starting backcourt going forward. Both played around 20 minutes. Monitoring what happens behind them, with Olivia Schmitt, Angelica Velez, Célaine Ricco, and Madison Howard competing for backup minutes.
- Feeling optimistic about the performances of the transfer forwards, Rambus and Jaleesa Molina (9 points and 6 rebounds in 18 minutes), either of whom can play next to Izoje in the frontcourt.
I’m expecting FLJ to give plenty of time and opportunities in Syracuse’s next game against Cornell, which was picked to finish sixth in the Ivy League. The real “bellwether” game for the rotation will likely come against Harvard, a road contest and Syracuse’s last before its three-game stretch in Puerto Rico.
Defense remains the Orange’s calling card
Opponent context is important to note, but what was discussed in the preseason is still true: defense will be Syracuse’s calling card for the entire season.
Outside the second quarter, the Orange held Sacred Heart to 11 points or less in the other three periods and under 28% shooting for the entire contest. They were also plus-19 in points off turnovers, forcing a ridiculous 28 of them. Ricco and Rodriguez combined for 11 steals, and five players had at least two.
Syracuse’s offensive ceiling might not be as high as last year considering the departures, so the other side of the court will be a determining factor once the competition starts ramping up. Against Sacred Heart, Syracuse set the tone right away.
Monitoring the three-pointers
A concern for us heading into the year was perimeter shooting, and that certainly appeared in the Orange’s season opener.
Syracuse shot 5/25 from three on Tuesday. Rodriguez (3/6) was the only player to knock down multiple, and only three players (Rodriguez, Skinner, and Schmitt) made at least one.
Izoje remains the engine and foundation for Syracuse’s offense. Giving her adequate space to work inside will be vital. Opponents should wisely double her and force someone else to score. Some threats on the perimeter will need to emerge to give Izoje the best chance at leading the offense.
