For a team on the NCAA Tournament bubble, Syracuse’s home win over the Golden Bears was nothing short of essential for head coach Felisha Legette-Jack and the Orange.
The emotion inside the Dome was unmistakable. For a school and fanbase desperate to see a major program make a postseason run, simply surviving a triple-overtime thriller felt significant. The game Thursday night was a result that could define Syracuse’s season.
What made the victory even more remarkable was how the game unfolded. Syracuse
had control for nearly 30 minutes, building a lead as large as 20 points and holding a 16-point advantage with just 10 minutes remaining. Then came a stunning and seemingly out-of-nowhere collapse. The Orange were outscored 25-9 in the fourth quarter, allowing Cal to force overtime.
Yet instead of turning on the team, the crowd leaned in. The Dome rallied behind the Orange, providing the energy that carried them through 15 grueling extra minutes and ultimately pushed them across the finish line.
The moment that defined the night came when guard Dominque Darius drained the go-ahead three with four seconds left. The Dome erupted. Darius was immediately wrapped in a long embrace from Legette-Jack. Not a routine congratulatory hug, but a meaningful one for a guard who had struggled, shooting just 5-of-17 from the field, yet delivered when it mattered most.
Legette-Jack made sure the moment extended beyond the final buzzer. Grabbing the microphone at the scorer’s table, she thanked the fans for their impact on the win and gave credit to the band for helping create an atmosphere that mattered.
By then, the box score was irrelevant. The fourth-quarter collapse no longer defined the night. What mattered was that Syracuse stayed together for 55 minutes and found a way to win. The Orange persevered despite losing Laila Phelia to injury, not once but twice, and still gutted out a victory.
More than anything, this game showcased the strength of the culture Legette-Jack has built. And when culture is strong, results tend to follow. That’s exactly what this win felt like, the kind that can propel a team forward.
What can you make of the team’s win against Cal? Will this team make the tournament?
