Syracuse Fends Off Cal 70-59 to Reach ACC Quarterfinals

Overview

• Syracuse opened on a 9-0 run and led 37-16 at halftime, holding Cal to 25% shooting with 10 first-half turnovers.
• California cut the margin to four in the fourth quarter before Izoje fueled a late surge, including an alley-oop finish from Laila Phelia, as the Orange closed it out at the free-throw line.
• Laila Phelia scored 17 points, and Sophie Burrows added 13 while extending her streak to 16 consecutive games with a made 3-pointer.
• The victory was Syracuse’s first ACC Tournament win since 2021 and counted as the team’s sixth Quadrant 2 result this season.
• Syracuse faces No. 2 seed Louisville on Friday at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2; guard Dominique Darius was ruled out after a midcourt collision and later returned to the bench with a cast-like wrap on her non-shooting hand.