Despite a season-best performance from junior guard Teisha Hyman, Syracuse women's basketball picked up its first ACC loss of the season to Louisville on Thursday night, falling to the Cardinals 86-77.
The loss drops the Orange to 10-3 on the year. All three of their losses have come on the road. Syracuse previously lost at Purdue and at Penn State but remain undefeated at home in the Dome.
Coming into the matchup, the Orange were 1-0 in ACC play, having beat Wake Forest earlier this month. Louisville was a much tougher opponent, though, having made a run to the Final Four in last season’s NCAA Tournament.
Teisha Hyman gave Orange fans the performance they’ve been waiting for, finishing with 27 points, the most on the team. Hyman also recorded two rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
Unlike previous games, Thursday’s matchup saw an unusually quiet bench for the Orange. Of the six players that came off the bench for Syracuse, only two scored any points. Asia Strong finished with four, and Cheyenne McEvans finished with just two points. Both played over 15 minutes.
Syracuse’s issues weren’t limited to their offense, however. The Cardinals shot 52.2% from the field, as opposed to the Orange, who shot just 38.2%.
Louisville’s defense was incredibly effective in shutting down Dyaisha Fair. The senior guard was held to just 13 points. She struggled in other ways, too, dishing out five assists but committing three turnovers in the process.
The main reasons behind the Orange’s struggles were junior guard Hailey Van Lith and senior guard Morgan Jones. The pair put up 24 and 15 points, respectively, with Jones also recording seven rebounds. Van Lith could not be contained on the offensive end, going 9-14 shooting and making 5-6 free throws on the night.
For Orange fans, the name Chrislyn Carr may sound familiar. That’s because she was on last year’s team but transferred to Louisville. The senior guard may have only put up 12 points, but she was an issue for the Orange all night. She is an elite defender with a large skill set.
Something that Head Coach Felisha Legette-Jack has discussed multiple times this season, the Orange were undersized going into this matchup. Dariauna Lewis and Asia Strong are several inches shorter than the players that were defending them. While Dariauna Lewis was able to record a double-double on the night, with 12 points and 11 rebounds, the Orange were ultimately outrebounded 47-31, which played a huge role in Louisville securing the win.
Syracuse will be back in action on New Year’s Day in the JMA Wireless Dome, when it takes on the currently sixth-ranked NC State Wolfpack. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on the YES Network.