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The Syracuse Orange had a hot start to the year, even with junior guard Brittney Sykes out of the lineup. Now, the Orange will have to figure out how to do that for the rest of the season.
Sykes is out for the year, SU Athletics announced on Tuesday. She re-injured her right ACL in the team's loss to Notre Dame on Sunday. It was only her third game back, after tearing her ACL and meniscus in the NCAA Tournament on March 22.
Sykes averaged 16.6 points per game last year, a major factor in a record-breaking season for the Orange in 2013-14.
She was still sporting a large brace on her right knee when the second injury occurred, a misstep on a drive to the basket.
"It was an unfortunate injury," head coach Quentin Hillsman said. "I am confident Brittney is going to do everything she can to return to the court at 100 percent. She will have the complete support of every person in this program in that process."
The Orange went 8-3 in the 11 games before Sykes' return. But that, of course, came during non-conference play and the road forward gets tougher for Syracuse, including a game against No. 13/12 Duke on Thursday.