Orange Win in Triple Overtime Thriller

Thursday, January 15

Syracuse, NY

6 PM

Syracuse University

15-3,5-2ACC

California

10-9,1-5ACC

OT 1

OT 2

OT 3

California

Syracuse

Team celebrates with Dominique Darius after clutch shot

1/15/2026 9:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Highlights Postgame Press Conference Dominique Darius Postgame

SYRACUSE, N.Y.- The SU women's basketball team (15-3, 5-2) defeated California (10-9, 1-5) in a triple overtime game, 90-87. Domonique Darius' three-point shot with 3.5 seconds remaining on the clock sealed the first win for the Orange in a triple overtime since facing Lafayette on December 4, 1998.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Off the opening tip, Laila Phelia put three points up on the board, shooting from beyond the arc just seconds into the game. Sophie Burrows got her hands on the ball from California, finding Uche Izoje down the court to add to the Orange's lead. SU ended the first quarter with a 12-10 advantage over the Golden Bears.

A technical foul given to California put Burrows at the line, where she made both free throws. Burrows went on a run, finding the net through the crowd of defenders on the awarded Orange throw in. The next Golden Bears possession was cut short, as Burrows stole the ball and scored off a layup. Phelia reentered the game, adding two field goals in the paint to give Syracuse a 34-23 lead to end the first half.

Back on the court, Syracuse fought for the ball. The Orange tallied 13 rebounds and forced six turnovers in the third quarter. The momentum in the JMA Wireless Dome increased as Phelia knocked in another shot from beyond the arc and Keira Scott recorded an electric block. The Orange closed out the third quarter, leading 53-37.

Aurora Almón captured a wild rebound, finding Burrows to finish off the drive with a corner three-pointer in the fourth quarter. California crept up, tying the score to 62 points each with 26.4 seconds remaining. The Golden Bears outscored the Orange 25-9 to force the game into overtime.

The Orange won the tip to start off overtime. Izoje helped Syracuse take the lead back, scoring two field goals in back-to-back possessions. With the advantage, SU's defense put pressure on the Golden Bears, keeping them scoreless for 3 minutes and 40 seconds. Domonique Darius was fouled, sending her to the line to add two extra points with 12 seconds remaining to give Syracuse a 74-71 lead. At the buzzer, California sunk a three-point shot to send the game into a second overtime, tied at 74 all.

SU won the tipoff again, putting the ball into Izoje's hands to score the first points of the sixth quarter of play. Burrows added a bucket from beyond the arc to take the lead back again. Burrows added a jumper to answer the Golden Bears' free throws. Two fast break field goals by California gave them a two-point advantage, but Darius' inbounded two-pointer tied the game up at 83 all to send both teams into a third overtime.

Syracuse once again earned the tipoff win. Burrows found the ball in her possession, putting up a three-point shot to get the seventh quarter of play started. The Orange were scoreless for 4 minutes and 7 seconds, until Darius was sent to the line to tie up the score at 87 each. Izoje's defensive rebound gave Syracuse the ball in the last few seconds of the game. Darius shot a three-pointer from beyond the arc with 3.5 seconds remaining on the clock to seal the 90-87 victory over California.

OF NOTE

Aurora Almón recorded 14 rebounds, marking a new career high (Previously nine against Auburn and Binghamton).
Almón played 32 minutes against the Golden Bears, the most in a game in her career (previously 18 minutes against Florida State on Jan. 19, 2025, with Miami).
Uche Izoje recorded her seventh double-double of the season (22 points, 13 rebounds).
Laila Phelia scored in the double digits for the fifteenth time this season.
The Orange's 11-point lead at the half was the third time this season that SU has led by 10+ points against an ACC opponent (Against SMU on December 7, 2025 and Florida State on Jan. 1, 2026)
Every player who entered the court tonight recorded a steal, totaling 17.
SU had seven blocks against California, five of which were by Izoje.
Four players scored in double digits tonight: Uche Izoje (22), Sophie Burrows (21), Domonique Darius (19), Laila Phelia (18).
This was the first time since Izabel Varejao (12) and Kyra Wood (11) on January 26, 2025, that two players have recorded double-digit rebounds. Aurora Almón (14) and Uche Izoje (13) tallied 27 of the team's 57 total rebounds.
Syracuse's 94 field goal attempts were the most since facing Howard on December 30, 2015.
Tonight's victory was the first time Syracuse had defeated California.

UP NEXT

The Orange are set to host Stanford to the JMA Wireless Dome on Sunday, January 18. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. on ACC Network.

Tickets for Sundays' ACC matchup are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting cuse.com/basketballtickets.

For more on the Syracuse women's basketball team, follow @CuseWBB on social media.