The Syracuse Orange women’s basketball team secured a 78-62 victory over Howard University on Sunday at the JMA Wireless Dome. With this win, Syracuse improved its season record to 6-1, while Howard fell to 6-2.
Freshman Uche Izoje led the Orange with a standout performance, scoring 20 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and recording seven blocks. According to the team, Izoje became the first ACC rookie this season to achieve seven blocks in a single game. “Uche Izoje recorded a career high seven blocks, the most since Alyssa Latham against #15 Louisville on Feb. 11, 2024 (6 blocks). Izoje led the team in scoring for the second game this season and collected her new career high of 20. Izoje also led the team in rebounds, totaling nine. She had six defensive and three offensive rebounds against the Bison,” as stated by Syracuse Athletics.
The game began with both teams exchanging possessions and matching each other with ten rebounds apiece during an early scoreless stretch. Izoje scored Syracuse’s first point from the free throw line. Sophie Burrows contributed with a jumper before Laila Phelia hit two three-pointers to help close out the first quarter with Syracuse leading 19-13.
In the second quarter, Syracuse outscored Howard 18-11, entering halftime ahead by thirteen points at 37-24. Izoje led all scorers in that period with seven points.
Burrows added another seven points in the third quarter along with a block and steal. The Orange registered four blocks during this period—three from Izoje—while both teams scored twenty points each for a third-quarter total of 57-44.
During the final quarter, Izoje contributed ten more points alongside two rebounds and two steals. She finished her day shooting four-for-six from the field and two-for-three at the free throw line.
Other notable performances included Shy Hawkins making her first start of the season and achieving a career-high six rebounds; Laila Phelia tying her season best by hitting three shots from beyond the arc; and Angelica Velez handing out eight assists in just one half en route to a personal season-high of nine assists overall.
Syracuse had four players finish in double figures: Uche Izoje (20), Laila Phelia (14), Journey Tompson (12), and Shy Hawkins (10). The team also recorded twenty-three assists—their highest total since their matchup against Stony Brook earlier this month.
Looking ahead, Syracuse will host Auburn on Wednesday, December 3 at 5 p.m., as part of the SEC/ACC Challenge before traveling for their first ACC contest at SMU on December 7. Tickets for Wednesday’s game are available online through cuse.com/basketballtickets.
