The Syracuse Women’s basketball team is on an historic run, and one way or another, it all comes to an end tonight against the mighty University of Connecticut. UConn is seeking its fourth straight National Championship and sits at 37-0 on the season. The Huskies have really yet to be challenged all season, but Syracuse might just have the ability to make them sweat.
It is incredibly difficult, if not altogether impossible, to pick Syracuse to win the title tonight. UConn has been so dominant this season, even more so than in year’s past. The Huskies are 25 point favorites tonight. However, if there is one way to stay in a game against UConn, Syracuse can do it.
Syracuse can shoot and is one of the best teams at grabbing offensive rebounds. Syracuse has several players who are capable of scoring from anywhere on the court. Senior Brianna Butler has set the record for most three-pointers made in one season after she sunk her 128th three of the year in Syracuse’s win over Washington in the Final Four.
Junior guard Alexis Peterson has elevated her game to a new level during this tournament run. She has carved apart defenses with her dribble-drive and can take the ball right to the basket or dish it out to the perimeter.
Syracuse will need to continue its tremendous work on the glass to stay in the game against UConn. In the Orange’s¬†biggest upset to date, Syracuse grabbed 24 offensive rebounds against South Carolina.¬†As a result, the Orange were able to take 13 more field goal attempts than the Gamecocks were.
This is something that Syracuse fans have seen with the men’s team. It became very difficult for the men’s team to win games when the opponent was grabbing a ton of offensive rebounds and was able to get off more shots than they did.
There is really no reason to ever pick against UConn. However, Syracuse could just make tonight’s National Championship game interesting, and maybe, just maybe, they can make the undefeated Huskies sweat a little bit.
