Syracuse Shows Promise Despite Exhibition Loss to UConn

October 14, 2026 - 00:18

The Syracuse Orange women's basketball team fell to the UConn Huskies 88-60 on Monday night in an exhibition matchup. While the final score suggests a lopsided affair, the game offered Syracuse coaches and players several encouraging signs heading into the regular season.

The Orange competed hard in stretches against one of the nation's premier programs. Syracuse showed flashes of offensive rhythm, particularly in the first half, and demonstrated the kind of defensive intensity that could translate into success once the games start counting.

Rebounding proved to be a mixed bag. Syracuse held its own on the glass at times but struggled to contain UConn's size inside during key runs. Cleaning up those lapses will be a priority in practice.

The guard play stood out as a bright spot. Syracuse's backcourt handled pressure well for much of the night and created scoring opportunities off penetration. Turnovers remain an area to address, but the decision making improved as the game progressed.

Perhaps most importantly, the exhibition gave younger players valuable minutes against elite competition. That experience cannot be replicated in practice, and it should pay dividends as the season unfolds.

Syracuse returns to action with plenty to build on. The loss will not count in the standings, but the lessons learned certainly will.