Orange Falls to Notre Dame

Thursday, February 26

South Bend, Ind.

7 PM

Syracuse University

21-7,11-6ACC

Notre Dame

19-9,11-6ACC

Syracuse

Notre Dame

2/26/2026 9:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Postgame Press Conference

SOUTH BEND, Ind.- The Orange women's basketball team (21-7, 11-6) fell to Notre Dame (19-9, 11-6) in their final road game of the season, 72-62. Laila Phelia led SU with 23 points against the Fighting Irish, along with three steals.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Phelia's jumper put the Orange on the board to start the game. Uche Izoje and Phelia continued to score buckets for SU, but the Fighting Irish answered back. Dominique Darius added a jumper, while Izoje scored another field goal off a fastbreak. Notre Dame went on a 6-0 run to close out the first quarter, leaving Syracuse down 18-21.

Phelia opened the second quarter with another jumper. Sophie Burrows knocked in the first three-point shot of the night for both teams early in the quarter and followed the next drive with a block against Notre Dame. Maddy Potts entered the game, adding another bucket from beyond the arc to regain the Orange's lead. Notre Dame took over, regaining the lead before Phelia's fast break layup near the end of the quarter erased the advantage. Closing out the first half, Notre Dame scored three field goals, giving the Fighting Irish a 37-32 lead over Syracuse.

Shy Hawkins hit a shot from beyond the arc to change the momentum in the third quarter. Phelia's back-to-back trips to the line chipped away at the Fighting Irish's lead, bringing the game within three points. The Orange defense kept Notre Dame from scoring a field goal for four minutes and 15 seconds of play in the third quarter. Phelia's floater with under a minute to play in the quarter gave the Orange its first lead of the game since late in the first quarter. The Fighting Irish snuck one last layup in to regain the lead, holding a 49-48 advantage heading into the final ten minutes of the game.

Darius started the final quarter off with a two-point bucket. Maddy Potts snuck through to grab an offensive board, finding Burrows to finish the drive in the paint. Phelia hit a three-point basket, sending both teams into a huddle after an Orange timeout was called. Phelia found herself at the top of the arc again in the final minutes, drawing a foul. Phelia made all three of her free throws, but it was not enough to overcome Notre Dame, as the Orange ultimately fell 72-62 in their final road game of the regular season.

OF NOTE

Laila Phelia led the team, scoring 23 points, the fifth time the guard has scored over 20 points in a game this season.
Uche Izoje recorded her 12th double-double of the season, scoring 12 points and collecting 10 rebounds.
Dominique Darius scored in double digits for the 19th time this season.
Sophie Burrows and Izoje each recorded three blocks against Notre Dame.

UP NEXT
Syracuse will close out the regular season at home in the JMA Wireless Dome against Boston College for Senior Day on Sunday, March 1. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on ACC Network Extra. The matchup will recognize the 2016 Syracuse women's basketball Final Four team and welcome back Orange alumni.

Tickets for Sunday's ACC matchup are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting cuse.com/basketballtickets.

For more on the Syracuse women's basketball team, follow @CuseWBB on social media.