Syracuse has no answer for Duke with a top paint that is burdened with foul trouble

Syracuse, NY – Led by last year’s ACC Rookie of the Year, the Duke women’s basketball team defeated Syracuse 71-51 on Sunday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome.

For most of the game, SU was unable to mount a comeback against the Blue Devils, with its star freshman hampered by foul trouble.

The defeat marked SU’s first home loss of the season.

The Orange (11-2, 1-1 ACC) started strong and led 14-7 after Dominique Darius made two free throws with 2:18 left in the first quarter.

From that point on, Duke took control and went on a 14-0 run until Darius hit a jumper with 5:45 left in the second quarter.

Orange center Uche Izoje spent most of the quarter on the bench after picking up his second foul with 7:15 remaining.

The Blue Devils took advantage of Izoja’s absence to open up an 11-point halftime lead.

Izoje, who entered the game leading the nation in blocked shots and averaging 13.2 and 8.3 rebounds per game, fouled out with just under 7 minutes left in the game. She finished with eight points, four rebounds and two blocks in just 18 minutes.

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After Darius cut Duke’s lead to 21-16, Jordan Wood responded with a layup on the next possession for Duke before Darius received a technical foul for celebrating after a deep 3-pointer.

A layup by Arianna Roberson with 3 seconds left in the second quarter gave Duke a double-digit halftime lead.

Defense defined the first half as both teams had four blocks. Neither team shot well from the outside arc, shooting a combined 1-for-12 from 3. SU shot just 28.1% from the field in the first half.

The third quarter went back and forth, but the Orange couldn’t find a way to string together stops after their scores. A turnaround jumper from Izoja cut Duke’s lead to 11 with 8:26 left in the third — the closest the score would be the rest of the game.

Darius had a steal and a fastbreak in the fourth quarter and Laila Phelia hit a 3-pointer, but the Orange were unable to come back.

SU struggled on the defensive glass and gave up 17 offensive rebounds to Duke. Izoje, also SU’s leading rebounder, was in foul trouble early, picking up his fourth foul at the 2:18 mark of the third quarter.

Duke’s Toby Fournier, last year’s ACC Rookie of the Year, scored a game-high 22 points and Darius led the Orange with 18 points.

The Orange are back at home Thursday when they take on Florida State at 6 p.m.