SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Syracuse women’s basketball team used a dominant defensive performance and a commanding presence in the paint to pull away from Howard for a 78-62 victory on Sunday at the Carrier Dome.

The Orange improved their record to 6-1 on the season, while the Lady Bison fell to 6-3.

Syracuse’s defense was the story of the game, swatting away 10 Howard shots and coming up with 11 steals. The anchor of that defensive effort was Izoje Uche, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Delta State, Nigeria. Uche was a force on both ends of the court, falling just shy of a triple-double with 20 points, nine rebounds and a staggering seven blocks in 28 minutes of action.

Howard’s offense struggled to find consistency against the Orange’s length and pressure. The Lady Bison shot just 23 for 61 from the floor, a 37.7 percent clip, and managed only two made three-pointers on nine attempts. Their offensive rating of 84.3 points per 100 possessions paled in comparison to Syracuse’s more efficient 108.3.

The Lady Bison were kept in the game largely by the individual efforts of Zennia Thomas. The junior guard from Cleveland, Ohio, poured in a game-high 24 points and dished out five assists in 33 minutes. Her ability to drive and create offense was a bright spot for a Howard team that committed 14 turnovers.

Syracuse, however, showcased a more balanced and efficient offensive attack. The Orange matched Howard’s 61 field goal attempts but connected on 31 of them, shooting 50.8 percent from the field. They also outscored Howard 48-34 in the paint, highlighting their interior advantage.

Beyond Uche’s standout performance, Syracuse received significant contributions from its supporting cast. Laila Phelia of Cincinnati, Ohio, provided a scoring punch with 14 points. Journey Thompson from McMurray, Pennsylvania, was efficient off the bench, scoring 12 points and grabbing four rebounds in just 18 minutes. Shy Hawkins of Mastic Beach, New York, added 10 points and six rebounds, while Australian guard Sophie Burrows filled the stat sheet with nine points, five rebounds and five assists.

The Orange also controlled the playmaking, with Angelica Velez of the Bronx distributing nine assists to go along with four points and three rebounds.

The game began as a defensive struggle, with both teams trading missed shots and turnovers in the opening minutes. Howard’s Rayne Durant of New Haven, Connecticut, scored the game’s first points on a tip-in layup, but Syracuse quickly found its footing. The Orange closed the first quarter on a 19-4 run, capped by a three-pointer from Laila Phelia, to take a 19-11 lead.

Syracuse continued to apply pressure in the second quarter, extending its lead. Howard’s offense, spearheaded by Thomas, managed to keep the deficit from ballooning, but the Lady Bison could not string together enough stops to mount a serious challenge. The Orange led 37-27 at halftime.

Any hopes of a Howard comeback were stifled in the third quarter as Syracuse’s defense tightened further. The Orange opened the period with a quick 6-0 spurt, and Uche’s rim protection continued to deter Howard drivers. The Lady Bison shot poorly in the frame, allowing Syracuse to build a 57-42 lead heading into the final period.

In the fourth quarter, the Orange maintained their double-digit advantage, methodically closing out the game. Howard never got closer than 12 points as Syracuse consistently answered with scores in the paint or from the free-throw line to secure the 16-point victory.

For Howard, Ariella Henigan of Chicago scored seven points, and Nile Miller of Woodbury, New Jersey, contributed two points, two rebounds and three assists. Rayne Durant provided a defensive presence with two blocks in eight minutes before fouling out.

The Lady Bison look to rebound on Friday when they host Fairfield. Syracuse, meanwhile, faces a quick turnaround with a tough home test against Auburn on Wednesday.