STORRS, CT — For the ninth time in program history, the Syracuse Orange women’s basketball team is walking away with a first round victory in the NCAA Tournament. The ninth-seeded Orange (24-8) defeated the eighth-seeded Iowa State Cyclones (22-10) 72-63 on Saturday night.
After a defensive battle early on, the second quarter would prove to be the one which decided the entire contest. Syracuse scored 30 in the period, its most in an NCAA Tournament game since 2017 (ironically, also against Iowa State
in the 8-9 game and in Storrs). Olivia Schmitt’s heat check performance in the period – a career-high 15 points on 5/6 from three — gave the Orange the big lead they would managed to hold the rest of the way.
Outside Schmitt, Syracuse also had double-digit scoring efforts from Uche Izoje (23 points on 11/19 shooting), Laila Phelia (18 points) and Sophie Burrows (14 points and 9 rebounds). Journey Thompson played over 30 minutes and didn’t score, but collected a team-high 12 rebounds.
As for the Cyclones, Audi Crooks shined as expected with a game-high 37 points on 17/25 shooting. But outside she and Jada Williams (14 points on 5/13 shooting), no other Iowa State player finished with more than five points. The Orange held the Cyclones to 39% shooting, but anyone not named Crooks combined to shoot 8/42 on the day.
The center battle between Izoje and Crooks was arguably the top story heading into the contest, and that was the case in the game’s first few minutes. Izoje scored 30 seconds in off a mid-range shot over Crooks. One possession later, Crooks scored in the post over Izoje.
Syracuse in the first five minutes would go up as much as three (5-2, then 9-6) thanks to a contest three from the wing by Laila Phelia and a quick six points from Izoje. Iowa State would then capitalize on an 0/5 stretch by the Orange, with Jada Williams and Addy Brown each connecting on jumpers to get the game within one (9-8, Syracuse) by the first media timeout.
Madeline Potts would soon after get a transition score off a steal and pass by Phelia, but the Cyclones owned the last few minutes of the quarter. It went on a 6-0 thanks to a top of key three from Williams and another bucket from Crooks. Tough defenses led to both Syracuse (5/17, 29%) and Iowa State (6/19, 32%) shooting the ball poorly early, but the Orange would find themselves down 14-11 heading into the second quarter.
After brief periods with both on the bench, Izoje and Crooks traded baskets. Izoje had 10 of the Orange’sfirst 18, while Crooks had nine. But, the big momentum swing of the quarter and the entire game came off the bench for the Orange.
Schmitt began the period converting a three off an offensive rebound and pass by Burrows. Moments later, she drilled another one from the top of the key, and then *another after stepping back to the line. Moments later, she dribbled into two-point range, stepped back and connected on a fourth three.
Keep in mind: she entered this game with 10 three-point makes all season. She had also never scored more than nine points in a game ever. Through seven minutes of the second quarter, Schmitt had five threes and 15 points. It would help Syracuse propel itself to an 11-0 run.
The barrage from three by her, soon followed by Phelia’s second three, put the Orange up as much as 13 (37-24) with two minutes until halftime. Another basket by Izoje would lead to ‘Cuse bringing a 15-point lead (41-26) into the locker room.
After the poor shooting in Q1, Syracuse dropped 30 in the second quarter and finished the half shooting 49%, led by 31 points combined from Izoje (16 points, 8/10 shooting) and Schmitt (15 points, 5/6 from three). For the Cyclones, Crooks had 15 points on 7/11 shooting, but the rest of the team combined for just 5/23 from the field entering the third.
Syracuse’s lead would get up to as much as 17 points after Izoje hit a tough turnaround over Crooks on its first possession of the second half. Shortly after, Phelia knocked down a contested floater inside. Of note, both Crooks and Izoje picked up their third fouls each early, forcing both teams to be without their star centers for a bit. Syracuse called timeout after a three by Williams brought its lead down to 13 (46-33) with under six left.
With Izoje on the bench, Phelia was now the primary source of offense for Syracuse and she would convert a couple tough mid-range shots to keep the team out in front. Iowa State was able to make a dent in Syracuse’s lead after Arianna Jackson knocked down a three and Crooks scored once more.
Despite only having 13 in the third, Syracuse managed to bring a 12-point lead (54-42) heading into the final period.
Izoje and Crooks each traded one basket early in the quarter, but it would take a handful of possessions for either team to get back on the board. With seven minutes left, Syracuse still held a nine-point lead (56-47), but Izoje picked up her fourth foul.
One possession after she was subbed out, the ball fould Phelia’s hands, who drove to the middle, got separation over Jackson and scored on the mid-ranger. After Crooks scored again, Burrows finally found the net after an 0/10 shot with a jumper of her own. But, Iowa State’s star center shortly after converted an and-one, then Reese Beaty knocked down her first basket to end a 12-4 Cyclones’ run and bring the Orange’s lead down to six (60-54) heading into the final media timeout.
In a key moment, Schmitt found Burrows who drilled a three from several steps behind the line to get the Orange ahead by nine with four to go. Several possession later, Thompson found Burrows open in the corner and she knocked down another one, giving the Orange a 66-56 lead.
Iowa State wouldn’t go away quite yet, with another Crooks’ basket capping off a brief 6-0 burst that would bring the game within five (68-63) with 1:20 left. With a chance to get the game within one possession, Kenzie Hare missed a three from the wing, then Williams was off on a putback attempt. That final stop would ultimately be enough for ‘Cuse to survive and advance.
For the second time in three years, up next for the Orange is a second round matchup on Monday against the UConn Huskies (35-0), who are undefeated and the top-seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
