Syracuse women’s basketball (2-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) used its overwhelming height and physicality in an 80-48 thrashing of Central New York rival Cornell (1-2, 0-0 Ivy League) on Sunday.
The Orange used their post players repeatedly on offense. Center Uche Izoje finished with 22 points, 18 of them in the first half.
First 20-point game of the season for Izoje
— Syracuse Women's Basketball (@CuseWBB) November 8, 2026
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“My coach told me, like, just go up and play strong, so I think I delivered today,” Izoje said after the game. The reigning ACC Rookie of the Year hasn’t missed a beat in her sophomore season, averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds through the first two games.
Sarah Rambus - shot blocker 🚫
— Syracuse Women's Basketball (@CuseWBB) November 8, 2026
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SU set the tone defensively in the first quarter. Oregon transfer Sarah Rambus swatted away two early layup attempts by Cornell, which was just the start of an excellent day protecting the rim for the Orange. At the end of the first quarter, Syracuse led 21-10.
The ‘Cuse’s second-quarter defensive effort was even stronger than the first. SU allowed just two points in the quarter and went to the locker room with a 42-12 lead.
“That’s gonna be our identity. We want to play defense, and I enjoy playing defense. I feel like it gets everybody going, especially when I’m playing defense,” said Iowa transfer Emely Rodriguez, who scored 13 points.
The Orange were in cruise control for much of the second half. Aside from an 8-0 Big Red run midway through the fourth quarter, Cornell never gained the traction it needed to make a serious comeback bid. The large lead allowed head coach Felisha Legette-Jack to put several reserves into the game, which allowed a pair of freshmen, guard Madison Howard and forward Destiny Robinson, to score their first collegiate points.
The Orange shot just over 53% from the field. Cornell head coach Emily Garner said after the game that stopping Izoje is a tricky task.
“We threw a little bit of everything at her, trying to mix in some zone, a little bit of doubling on the inside, but she does a phenomenal job of creating her own spaces, finding her shot, but also finding her open teammates,” Garner said.
Nonconference play continues Wednesday when the ‘Cuse hosts Siena. The Saints are 1-2 this year and average 73 points per game. Tipoff at the JMA Wireless Dome is set for 6 p.m. Follow @WAERSports on X for live updates.
