A Busy Weekend Ahead
The Syracuse University Orange women's basketball team is set for a demanding weekend in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, beginning with a road showdown against Ohio State on Friday and concluding with a trip to Piscataway, New Jersey, to face Rutgers on Sunday. After opening the season with two true road victories over Fairfield and Northeastern, the Orange sit at 2-0 and are looking to extend their winning streak to three games.
The five-game road swing will take the Orange from their home base in Syracuse, New York, to Boston, a distance just over 300 miles, before they wrap up the trek with a contest against Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, on September 13. This stretch marks the second time in three years that Syracuse has recorded true road wins in the early part of the schedule, underscoring the team's ability to thrive away from home.
Coach Farquhar’s Vision
Head coach Lynn Farquhar, now in her fourth season at the helm, is building on a foundation of 39 victories with the Orange and is eager to reach the 40th win of her tenure at the university. Her career tally includes 147 wins overall, with a significant portion earned during her time at Saint Joseph’s before joining Syracuse.
Freshman forward Jovie Weaver has quickly become a focal point after scoring two game-winning goals in her debut weekend, an achievement that earned her ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. Her early impact adds depth to a roster that already boasts a 17-game winning streak in regular-season nonconference play, a streak that dates back to a September 13, 2024 victory over Northeastern.
In the 2025 ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Syracuse demonstrated its defensive prowess by shutting out Rutgers 2-0, with sophomore Aubrey Turner contributing an insurance goal in the 18th minute. The following year, the Orange edged Ohio State 2-1 in a tightly contested match, highlighted by a perfect aerial pass from Bo van Kempen to Hattie Madden that proved decisive.
The upcoming series against Ohio State, which began in 1993, will mark the Orange's first neutral-site victory over the Buckeyes, a milestone they have yet to achieve despite a 3-2 overtime loss in 2010. As the team prepares for the challenges ahead, the combination of veteran leadership, a hot streak, and fresh talent positions them strongly for a successful start to the season.