Uche Izoje took control early, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead Syracuse to an 82-58 victory over Siena in front of 2,713 fans at the JMA Wireless Dome on Wednesday night. The win kept Syracuse unbeaten at 3-0 this season while handing Siena their third consecutive loss.
Siena showed signs of life early in the game, staying close to the Orange well into the second quarter. Sophomore guard Francesca Schiro hit a 3-pointer that trimmed Syracuse’s lead to 30-28 with just under four minutes remaining in the first half. That moment sparked hope for the visiting Saints, but Syracuse responded with a 15-5 run to close the half, taking a 45-33 lead into the locker room.
The Orange extended their advantage to 63-48 after three quarters and stretched their lead to as many as 25 points in the final quarter. Syracuse’s dominance inside the paint was clear, outscoring Siena 42-26 in that area, while capitalizing on turnovers to rack up 35 points off 22 Siena giveaways.
Siena’s redshirt junior Nicole Melious contributed 12 points, and sophomore Kaiya Rain Tucker added 11 points along with 8 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Saints struggled to contain Syracuse’s offensive flow.
Siena head coach Terry Primm acknowledged the team’s competitive spirit but recognized the need to improve. “The environment, I don’t know if I focused on it much during the game,” Primm told WVCR 88.3 FM. “I just loved the competitiveness we had. Regardless of who we play, we have to clean up some things. I’ve got to figure out a way to help them do that, so we’ll watch the film and figure it out.”
This game marked Siena’s first trip to Syracuse since a 102-65 loss on November 14, 2016. Unlike that lopsided result, Siena kept the contest competitive in the early stages, showing progress despite the defeat.
Syracuse’s strong start and control of the boards proved decisive, as did their ability to limit Siena’s scoring opportunities inside the paint. The Orange’s balanced attack and defensive pressure kept the Saints from gaining momentum after halftime.
Siena faces New Haven on Sunday as they look to halt their losing streak. Meanwhile, Syracuse will aim to maintain their unbeaten record as the season progresses.
According to Yahoo Sports.
