Syracuse Orange Women's Basketball: #19 Virginia Tech vs. Featured Game

Coming off a historic victory in South Bend, the #22 Syracuse Orange women's basketball team (17-2, 7-1) returned to the JMA Wireless Dome on Sunday afternoon to take on the #19 Virginia Tech Hokies (15-4). will face off against. , 6-2).

Syracuse returned to 315 with one of the most shocking wins in recent program history, a 79-65 road victory over the No. 15 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This was the Orange's first road win over ND. The Orange are currently on a six-game winning streak and hope to continue their good form in their second straight game against an ACC team ranked in the top 25 of the AP League.

Virginia Tech is coming off back-to-back double-digit wins over Clemson Tech and Georgia Tech and, like Syracuse, is projected to be a 5 seed in ESPN's latest Bracketology update. Last season, the Hokies finished 31-5 overall (14-4 against the ACC), won the ACC Tournament and advanced to the Final Four of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

Tipoff between the Orange and Hokies will take place at 12:00 PM ET at the Dome. The game will also be streamed on the ACC Network.

Syracuse is undefeated (11-0) in the Dome so far this season, but can they continue their winning streak in their next matchup against an opponent ranked in the AP Top 25?

Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Syracuse forward vs. Elizabeth Kitley: Alyssa Latham and Kyla Wood have particularly shined with their shot blocking and rebounding (especially on the offensive glass). But they face arguably the toughest single-player match all season.elizabeth Kitley is a two-time ACC Player of the Year, and the 6-foot-6 graduate center is a constant force on both ends of the court (22.7 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game this year). ). Can Latham, Wood, and the rest of Syracuse's forwards stay out of foul trouble and get enough stops against one of the most productive players in the ACC?
2. Attack inside: Syracuse has gotten better at attacking the rim over the course of this winning streak, both with half-court drives and extra offensive rebounds, but the Orange offense can sometimes be prone to taking too many perimeter shots. . Virginia Tech has the best 3-point percentage in the ACC (37%), but the Hokies are also holding opponents to his second-lowest 3-point percentage (28%). The three-point shot may not be as effective as an offensive weapon this time around.
3. All eyes are on the orange. This is definitely a game with a lot of stakes. Once again, the Orange will be playing their only game this weekend against two AP Top 25 teams, but Notre Dame's win put this team in the national spotlight. More fans are (finally) starting to flock to home games, and Syracuse's 11-0 home winning streak this year includes the most notable come-from-behind victory in program history. Let's see how the Orange can use that momentum heading into this game.

Syracuse vs. #19 Virginia Tech Preview by the Numbers

Always: Syracuse is 8-9 against Virginia Tech dating back to the 1988-1989 season, while the Orange are 6-5 against the Hokies since joining the ACC and 5-4 overall in the Dome. Virginia Tech has won its last three games.

Last match: The Orange lost 78-64 on the road in the program's only game against the Hokies last season.

Impact on winning/losing: The victory extended Syracuse's winning streak to seven games and its fourth against an AP League Top 25 opponent, improving the Orange's home record to 12-0. If they lose, their winning streak will end at six, and the Orange will have a record of three wins and three losses against Q1 opponents.