Dyaisha Fair’s Clutch Free Throws Sends No. 23 Syracuse Past No. 15 Louisville

By Andrew Della Piana | @dellie_5

Just 11 days ago, Syracuse missed 12 free throws in a 12 point loss to Louisville. Fast forward to today, and Dyaisha Fair found herself at the charity stripe with the game in her hands. Cool, calm and collected, she stepped up to the line and knocked down both for the No. 23 Orange to upset the No. 15 Cardinals 73-72. As she was called on by head coach Felisha Legette-Jack, Fair was ready for the moment.

“Once the rest of the crowd made that call, and Coach trained that many times, the crowd simply fell silent. Of course, everyone was cheering, but for me, it was like having tunnel vision—the coach was telling my dad to be quiet on the other side, but other than that, it was like we were locked in momentum, and I knew it was my time to deliver. My team was counting on me. I was counting on myself.” 

“If you stay locked on your success, that’s the end of your success. If you stay locked on your failure, that’s a continuum. For that reason, we try not to dwell on them. Instead, we try to move on and learn from every game. This team in particular is so resilient and focused on the present that we are unable to discuss events that occurred ten days ago.”

It’s the first win for SU over the ‘Ville in the last 9 tries. Syracuse now takes its talent to South Beach to take on Miami on Thursday night. The Orange have struggled as of late in Coral Gables, losing 3 of the last 4 contests played there. 

aedellap@syr.edu | @dellie_5