Syracuse star Dyaisha Fair climbs the NCAA women's basketball scoring list: What to know

Update: Syracuse's Dyaisha Fair closed her career by moving into third place on the women's basketball career scoring list with 20 points in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Connecticut. Click here to read the newest story.

Syracuse point guard Dyaisha Fair, already No. 5 on the NCAA Division I all-time scoring list, is competing in another NCAA Tournament as one of Rochester's most renowned basketball players.

Fair and Syracuse coach Felisha Legette-Jack's Orange were given an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, earning the No. 6 seed of Portland 3 region. In Saturday's first round, Syracuse defeated No. 11 Arizona 74-69 behind Fair's 32 points. Fair claimed fifth all-time on the NCAA Division I career points list in February, and with 3,383 points entering Monday's second round game against UConn, Fair is within striking distance of fourth and could climb as high as third place.

A fifth-year All-American guard, Fair is guiding Syracuse through its first "Big Dance" appearance since 2021. Syracuse was ranked No. 22 in the latest Associated Press poll. The Edison Tech product previously led the University at Buffalo to the NCAAs in 2022.

Fair's accomplishments have already etched her name alongside Section V greats like Rush-Henrietta's Shenise Jackson and Gates Chili's Cierra Dillard. A wizard ball handler and clutch player who elevates her game in the fourth quarter, Fair became the 16th woman in NCAA Division I history to score 3,000 points Jan. 14.

"The one thing I can say is, it's unbelievable," Fair said after surpassing 3,000 points. "I've been told just recently that I need to start to celebrate myself, and that's what I'm going to do."

Who does Syracuse play next in the NCAA Tournament?

Fair has returned Syracuse to women's basketball glory with its 13th NCAA appearance. The Orange have a 10-12 record in their previous 12 trips since 1985 — a team led by Legette-Jack. Syracuse clinched seven consecutive NCAA berths between 2013 and 2019. Syracuse advanced to the program's only national championship game as a 14th-seed in 2016, when the Orange fell to UConn.

Who: No. 6 Syracuse (24-7) vs. No. 3 UConn (30-5).

When: 6 p.m. Monday.

Watch: ESPN.

Where: Harry A. Gample Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut.

In just her second season, Legette-Jack has guided her alma mater to an NCAA Tournament first-round win. Syracuse advanced to the Women's NIT in 2023 during Legette-Jack's first season. Coach clinched four NCAA berths at the University at Buffalo prior to that.

"To be at this dance, it's humbling and exciting. We'll play anybody, anywhere, anytime," Legette-Jack said to media during a selection show watch party March 17.

Where Dyaisha Fair ranks among NCAA women's basketball all-time scoring leaders

Fair is currently ranked fifth on the NCAA Division I career scoring list. She's scored 3,383 points throughout her five-year career. That leaves Fair 11 points shy of sole possession of fourth place, and 20 away from third all-time.

Fair, a 5-foot-5 point guard, is averaging 22.3 points per game this season. At that pace, Fair is within reach of climbing to third all-time Monday night. Fair is averaging 19.6 points for her career between Buffalo and Syracuse.

"I'm not within the ballpark of somebody like this young lady," Legette-Jack said in January. "She's different. She's special. She's one of the best players to ever play the game."

1. Caitlin Clark, Iowa (present): 3,798.

2. Kelsey Plum, Washington (2017): 3,527.

3. Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (2018): 3,402.

4. Jackie Stiles, Missouri State (2001): 3,393.

5. Dyaisha Fair, Syracuse (present): 3,383.

How Dyaisha Fair arrived at Syracuse

Following her junior season at Buffalo, Fair followed Legette-Jack to Syracuse when the Orange legend was hired to coach her alma mater in 2022.

Fair averaged 19 points per game in her first season with the Orange, scoring 656 points in 33 games as they went 20-13 and advanced to the WNIT Super 16. This season Fair has already scored 692 points in 30 games. Her 22.3 points per game ranks eighth in the nation. She's scored over 30 points four times this winter, cooking Boston College for 38 points on Feb. 4

Fair's most lethal weapon may be the space she creates on step-back 3-pointers. The 111 treys Fair has made this season only trials Iowa star Caitlin Clark's record-breaking 176. Fair is shooting 38% from long distance. She made nine 3-pointers in a win against Florida State Jan. 18.

Dyaisha Fair played high school basketball in Rochester NY

Locals still rave about Fair's skill level as a high school star at Edison Tech. She was named All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year in 2019 after averaging 33.5 points per game for the Inventors. Fair was the first Rochester City School District player to win the award.

Fair first played under coach Legette-Jack at Buffalo. She spent three seasons there, and was named an All-American and MVP of the Mid-American Conference Tournament as a junior in 2021-22. Fair led the Bulls to the NCAA Tournament that season and lost to Tennessee in the first round.

Fair scored 2,035 points in three seasons at Buffalo. She averaged 22 points per game as a freshman, 24.1 as a sophomore, and 23.4 points her junior year, which ranked fourth in the nation.

The Rochester native is no slouch on defense either. In addition to her all-conference selections in the MAC and ACC, Fair has is also an all-conference defender.

— Marquel Slaughter is a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle, specializing in high school sports. He has been reporter for 14 years. Follow him @MarquelSports on X or on Instagram. You can contact him at mslaughter1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Dyaisha fair climbs NCAA women's basketball scoring list: What to know