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In Syracuse’s last two games — losses to Florida State and SMU — its leading rebounder and second-leading scorer Kyra Wood missed both contests while in concussion protocol.

While sidelined, Wood admitted she felt helpless. She still talked to her teammates when they got on the bench, giving them tips on what to tweak. However, per SU head coach Felisha Legette-Jack, Wood was disappointed she wasn’t on the court.

It got to the point where Wood was so down on herself, Legette-Jack yelled at her to let her know she wasn’t “out of her wrath.”

“She was so emotional. She was so hurt that we had to give her hugs. I had to yell at her in the training room, had to find something to be mad at so she could know that she’s not out of the game,” Legette-Jack said.

Though in Syracuse’s (7-9, 1-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) game Sunday against Miami (11-5, 1-4 ACC), Wood returned to the lineup and made a big impact. Coming off the bench, the senior tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds, her fourth double-double of the season. Her performance helped SU down Miami 66-61 in a close battle down the stretch, capturing its first ACC win of the year.

“I just really love how she handled the first time being on the court in about a week-and-a-half the way she did,” Legette-Jack said.

Wood has been battling injuries since the Orange’s loss to then-No. 10 Notre Dame on Dec. 8, when she played just 10 minutes. Over the next month, including her absences against FSU and SMU, Syracuse struggled to replace her production.

Versus the Seminoles, SU opted for Saniaa Wilson and Izabel Varejão in the starting lineup, though the duo only combined for 12 points and 10 rebounds. Substituting Wilson for Journey Thompson against the Mustangs, she and Varejão were much more productive, but SU still only led the rebounding battle 45-44.

So, it was big when Wood returned against the Hurricanes. Still, she spent the opening minutes on the bench, subbing in at the 5:55 mark of the first quarter. After SU scored just four points in that time, Wood immediately got it back on track.

On an inbounds pass from Dominique Camp, Wood found space in the paint and caught the ball to the right of the basket. With two defenders in her face, she heaved the ball over Miami’s Cameron Williams to boost Syracuse’s lead to 6-2.

Though it took Wood two minutes to get on the board again, she continued to propel the Orange. With SU up 6-5, Georgia Woolley dribbled toward the basket but was trapped. Instead, she found a cutting Wood, who spun around Williams and sank a contested hook shot.

Wood was subbed out with 1:36 left in the quarter. But as she affirmed postgame, it was clear she didn’t need to recalibrate after missing the last two games.

“There was no adjustment; just go out there and play with our starters, come off the bench or the last minute of the fourth quarter,” Wood said. “I just go out there, do what I need to do.”

To jumpstart the second quarter, Wood stole the ball from Miami’s leading scorer, Haley Cavinder, turning it into two points. This time, Woolley lobbed the ball to her in the paint, and Wood threw it off the glass to make it 19-12 Syracuse.

Wood committed her second foul soon after and was forced onto the bench for the last 7:59 of the half. Still, she totaled six points in just six minutes.

The senior reentered midway through the third quarter, with SU’s lead cut to 30-27, quickly asserting her dominance on the glass. First, Woolley drove to the basket but left a layup short. Wood collected the rebound and easily converted her second-chance attempt. Just a minute later, she corralled her own rebound, hitting another putback.

Wood continued her hot streak through the end of the quarter, hitting two more shots. Additionally, her rebounding prowess helped Woolley get out of a funk. SU’s leading scorer had two abysmal games against FSU and SMU, shooting 12.5% and 31.3%, respectively. Versus Miami, Woolley tallied 17 points, including a 3 to push SU’s lead to 12.

“(Wood) just seems to find my rebounds, and as someone that likes to score, that gives me the confidence to keep shooting those shots,” Woolley said.

Though Wood only scored four points in the fourth, she began to control the boards, instantly notching a rebound on a Jasmyne Roberts missed layup. She added four more down the stretch to notch her fourth double-double of the season.

Still, as Miami crawled back into the game, cutting the Orange’s advantage to 52-45 with five minutes remaining, Wood punched back. After a Woolley 3-point attempt hit back iron, Rogers got the rebound, but falling out of bounds, shoveled it straight to Wood. With zero opposition, she moved SU’s lead back to nine.

But again, the Hurricanes refused to quit. This time, after SU’s lead waned to 59-53 with just 50 seconds left, Wood caught a pass from Angelica Velez beyond the arc. She drove straight to the rim, blowing by two Miami defenders for an easy score.

Syracuse eventually put the game away down the stretch, with Wood pulling down the game-sealing board on a Rogers missed 3.

Despite missing over a week with her injury, Wood came back strong against Miami. And it was just at the right time. After Syracuse trod water to begin conference play, Wood proved to be the missing piece it needed, steering it to its first ACC win of the year.

“She was so ready to get out there and embark on this opportunity. She’s been with us for three years, and she knows how to play the game,” Legette-Jack said.

Published on January 12, 2025 at 10:52 pm

Contact Noah: njnussba@syr.edu | @ Noahnuss99