SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Syracuse women’s basketball team used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from Albany and secure a 64-45 victory Friday night at the Carrier Dome, improving to 2-0 on the young season.

In a game defined by defensive pressure and scoring runs, the Orange capitalized on a disastrous first half for the visiting Great Danes, who managed just 10 points through the first two quarters. Albany’s offense, which shot a paltry percentage from the floor, could not overcome 27 points off turnovers surrendered to Syracuse.

The Orange set the tone early, racing to a 16-4 lead after the first quarter. Albany’s offensive struggles were profound, as they connected on only a handful of field goals in the opening frame. The second quarter offered little respite for the Great Danes, who were outscored 11-6, sending Syracuse into halftime with a commanding 27-10 advantage.

Any hope of an Albany comeback was extinguished in the third quarter. Syracuse’s offense exploded for 25 points, nearly matching their entire first-half output. The Orange consistently found easy baskets, finishing the game with 36 points in the paint compared to Albany’s 18. The period featured a balanced attack from the home team, stretching their lead to an insurmountable margin.

To their credit, the Great Danes showed resilience in the final period, unleashing a 27-point fourth quarter that nearly matched their output from the first three quarters combined. The late burst was led by guard Delanie Hill, who caught fire from the field. However, the Orange managed the game effectively down the stretch, scoring 12 points to keep the visitors at a safe distance.

Syracuse’s victory was a product of its depth and defensive intensity. Dominique Darius, a guard from Jacksonville, Florida, orchestrated the offense and finished with 13 points and two assists. She was complemented inside by Izoje Uche, a 6-foot-3 forward from Delta State, Nigeria, who used her size to contribute 14 points and three rebounds.

The Orange also received key contributions from their bench. Guard Angelica Velez of the Bronx provided a spark with 10 points and two assists, while forward Journey Thompson from McMurray, Pennsylvania, was efficient in limited minutes, scoring seven points and recording two blocks.

For Albany, which fell to 1-1, the loss was mitigated by a pair of standout individual performances. Forward Martina Borrellas of Barcelona, Spain, was a force on both ends, tallying 15 points and nine rebounds in 34 minutes of action. The bulk of the Great Danes’ offense, however, came from Hill. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native erupted for 17 points, with the majority coming during the team’s frantic fourth-quarter rally. Forward Gabriela Falcao of Figueira da Foz, Portugal, anchored the defense with eight rebounds.

The game was played before an announced crowd of 2,232 at the Carrier Dome. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Syracuse entered the contest with an 89.50 percent probability to win, a projection they fulfilled with their commanding performance.

Albany will look to rebound when it returns home to host Dartmouth on Monday. Syracuse, meanwhile, continues its homestand with a game against Canisius on Tuesday.