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CHESTNUT HILL, MA - FEBRUARY 05: Uche Izoje #44 of the Syracuse Orange dribbles the ball during the women's college basketball game between the Syracuse Orange and the Boston College Eagles on February 5, 2026 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Syracuse Orange on Sunday were looking for the first victory over the NC State Wolfpack in almost a decade, but unfortunately, the program’s losing streak to them will continue. Syracuse fell 82-69 to NC State in Reynolds Coliseum, dropping its 10th straight in the all-time series.
The Orange battled early but quickly fell behind. The team trailed by 19 points (46-27) at the end of the first half, but stormed back in the third quarter. It would cut the deficit down to as low as six points before the Wolfpack surged ahead and send the Orange home with just its second road loss all season. Syracuse also moves to 1-6 this year against Quadrant 1 opponents.
This was also a potentially key game in regards to conference tournament seeding. Syracuse entered Sunday ranked fourth in the standings, while NC State was fifth.
Uche Izoje finished with a game-high 26 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks. Dominique Darius had 19 points but on 5/19 shooting, while Laila Phelia (11 points) and Sophie Burrows (9 points) combined to shoot 6/21.
For NC State, Khamil Pierre led the attack inside with 25 points on 10/15 shooting and 15 rebounds. Zoe Brooks also reached 20, while Tilda Trygger and Zamareya Jones each had 14.
Izoje got the Orange on the board within seconds on their first possession after knocking down a fadeaway mid-range from the baseline. Both teams started off hot on the offensive end. The Izoje basket was followed by corner threes from Darius and Phelia, which countered makes from Trygger and Pierre.
But after Syracuse started off 4/8 from the field, there was a lid on the basket.
After Izoje scored inside to put Syracuse up 14-13 in what initially was a back and forth period, NC State started to roll and totally controlled the last four minutes. During that stretch, Syracuse had no points while NC State scored 13 straight. Trygger, Pierre and Brooks combined for 23 points by the end of the first quarter, with the Orange trailing 26-14.
Syracuse’s deficit continued to get larger to start the second quarter.
Izoje would knock down a pair of mid-rangers to end the ‘Cuse cold spell on offense, but the Wolfpack’s offense stayed rolling. Jones connected on her second three of the contest from the wing. Shortly after, Pierre scored on consecutive possessions, the latter of which came off a steal and would put the Orange in a 19-point hole (35-16).
Syracuse managed kept it between 14 and 15 thanks to scores like this one in transition from Shy Hawkins, but the Wolfpack maintained their groove on offense. Brooks scored another seven in the quarter, including a wide-open three late, to keep the Orange in a significant hole.
Syracuse would leave the first half behind 46-29. Izoje and Darius combined for 22 of the Orange’s points in the half. NC State shot 52%, led by 15 from Brooks, 11 from Trygger and 10 from Pierre.
Give credit where its due: The Orange didn’t let the deficit get the better of them.
Starting the half down 17, Syracuse started the third quarter with a quick 7-0 capped off by a steal from Burrows and a three by her from the wing. Shortly after, Burrows knocked down another three, this time from the corner, to get the Orange back within single-digits (49-41). Brooks ended the brief run without a basket for NC State after knocking down a mid-range.
The deficit would get down to as low as six (55-49) after Izoje stole the ball, then converted on another turnaround jumper. She would continue to have the hot hand for the Orange, but so would Pierre, who continued to get easy looks inside. Despite winning the quarter and showing some fight, ‘Cuse still found itself down 66-53 heading into the final period.
Pierre got the first basket of the period to push NC State back up 15. Syracuse would miss its first six shots of the quarter and have no field goals for over four minutes before Phelia knocked down a deep three to finally get the Orange on the board. Soon after, Darius drove inside over Brooks for an and-one layup to bring the score to 74-65 with four minutes left.
Syracuse had one last chance to get it within six and keep the Wolfpack sweating, but a trio of missed threes on one possession ultimately ended the Orange’s chances, especially after Jones got one more score for good measure.
Just two games remain for the Orange before the ACC Tournament. Prior to that, Syracuse will get one last shot to secure its second Q1 win of the year. It will be back on the road Thursday to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
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