Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.

After sitting since the 3:49 mark of the first quarter, Izabel Varejão returned to the game to start the second half. Despite having two fouls, Varejão looked to help Syracuse out of its 42-31 deficit.

The Terrapins went right at SU’s center. As a result, Varejão picked up her third foul just over a minute into the second half. Maryland continued to push the ball inside the paint, and Varejão got a hand on Allie Kubek’s shot for a denial.

Though, the Terrapins kept possession. Just 51 seconds after picking up her third foul, Varejão was whistled for her fourth, sending her back to the bench with over seven minutes left in the third quarter.

After totaling 19 points and nine rebounds across the Orange’s first two games, Varejão was held to a season-low four points and three boards Wednesday. Due to being in constant foul trouble, Varejão played just 13 minutes and the Terrapins took advantage, as Syracuse (1-2, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) fell 84-73 to No. 11 Maryland (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten).

“Having (Varejão) in foul trouble definitely affected us a lot tonight,” Georgia Woolley said.

Without Varejão’s 6-foot-4 presence on the court for over half the contest, the Terrapins capitalized on SU’s shortened defense. Maryland guards Kaylene Smikle and Bri McDaniel combined for 35 points.

Varejão picked up her first foul just over two minutes into the first quarter and Smikle cashed in immediately. She knocked down two subsequent shots at the charity stripe. The Terrapins garnered 20 points off free throws throughout the contest.

Four minutes after collecting her first foul, Varejão got docked for her second. Through six minutes of play, Varejão collected two rebounds and turned the ball over twice, and SU head coach Felisha Legette-Jack opted to put her on the bench.

The Orange took a 20-14 lead into the second quarter, but things started to unravel shortly into the frame. SU turned to a younger lineup and turned the ball over five times in the quarter.

Without Varejão to anchor SU’s defense, the Terrapins went on a 15-0 run to catapult them into the lead. Maryland frequently attacked the paint, tallying 10 points on layups alone.

Kyra Wood and Woolley ended Maryland’s run with baskets on back-to-back possessions, but the pair still couldn’t find an answer to the Terrapins’ dominance inside. In the final three minutes of the second quarter, Maryland added three more layups to extend its lead to 42-31 at halftime.

In the 17 minutes when Varejão sat to end the first half, Maryland outscored Syracuse by 14. To start the third quarter, she returned to the lineup, looking to spark the Orange.

Though her third-quarter run didn’t last long. Just over 90 seconds into the quarter, Varejão heard the whistle blow again. Legette-Jack was faced with what to do with her only center and chose to keep her in the game.

The decision backfired. Varejão was called for her fourth foul less than a minute later.

“It was so early in the third quarter, she hasn’t had any rhythm and we gambled and lost,” Legette-Jack said.

Varejão was forced to sit for the second period of extended time, and Maryland went back to converting down low in the paint. Kubek, who finished with 16 points, added two layups in the remaining minutes of the third quarter.

When Varejão returned to the game at the 8:23 mark of the fourth, SU trailed by nine points. It didn’t take long for the Terrapins to attack her inside.

McDaniel drove toward Varejão and capitalized on her cautious defense, increasing Maryland’s lead back to double digits.

Varejão didn’t score until the 6:56 mark of the fourth quarter, getting to the cup with a layup of her own. With four minutes left, she added her second basket and picked possession away from McDaniel, but was called for her fifth foul with 2:57 left.

Her exit came with the Orange trailing by four. Syracuse lacked the player who had proven capable of impacting the game in a variety of ways, and without her, the Terrapins went on a 14-7 run to win the game.

“Most people got four or five people that can do what Varejão can do, we have one person,” Legette-Jack said. “We gotta gamble sometimes, and this time, don’t go to the casino on that one.”

Published on November 14, 2024 at 12:16 am

Contact Timmy at: tswilcox@syr.edu | @TimmyWilcox32