Syracuse women's basketball defeats California in ACC Tournament

Uche Izoje's double-double leads Orange to first ACC Tournament win since 2021

Mar. 6, 2026 at 12:21am

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Uche Izoje recorded 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Syracuse women's basketball team to a 70-59 victory over California in the ACC Tournament. The Orange opened the game on a 9-0 run and never trailed, extending their lead to 21 points by halftime as California struggled offensively. The Golden Bears made a second-half push to cut the deficit to 4 points, but Syracuse answered behind Izoje's strong play down the stretch to secure the win and advance to the quarterfinals.

Why it matters

This victory marks Syracuse's first ACC Tournament win since 2021, doubling their conference win total from last season and sending them to the quarterfinals. It's an important step forward for the Orange program as they look to build momentum and make a deep postseason run.

The details

Syracuse opened the game on a 9-0 run and led by as many as 21 points in the first half, as California shot just 25% from the field and committed 10 turnovers before the break. The Golden Bears rallied in the second half, trimming the deficit to 56-52 midway through the fourth quarter, but Syracuse answered with a key alley-oop from Laila Phelia to Izoje to push the lead back to 8 points. The Orange then closed out the game at the free-throw line as California was unable to get any closer.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 6, 2026 in the ACC Tournament.
  • Syracuse's last ACC Tournament win was in 2021.

The players

Uche Izoje

The ACC rookie of the year, Izoje recorded a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead Syracuse to the victory.

Laila Phelia

Phelia added 17 points for the Orange, including a key alley-oop pass to Izoje late in the game.

Sakima Walker

Walker led California with 19 points in the losing effort.

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What’s next

Syracuse will play No. 2 seed Louisville on Friday in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. California awaits an invitation to play in a postseason tournament.

The takeaway

Syracuse's win over California in the ACC Tournament showcases the continued growth and development of the Orange women's basketball program, as they look to build on their success and make a deep postseason run.