SU struggled from the field and could not overcome a balanced attack from the top-seeded Gamecocks.
For the second-straight season, Syracuse reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament thanks to a tight victory over Nebraska on Friday.
But that would once again be as far as the Orange could surge.
Despite hanging with South Carolina earlier in the season, SU fell behind early and never recovered in a 97-68 drubbing at the hands of the top-seeded Gamecocks. The Orange finishes the 2014-15 season with an overall record of 22-10.
The win is SU's first over a ranked opponent this season.
Syracuse made only 27.3 percent of its field goals. It committed 16 turnovers, with 10 in the first half alone. It trailed its opponent in rebounds, blocks and nearly ever relevant shooting category.
None of that mattered.
When the final buzzer sounded in the Carrier Dome, the Orange came out victorious. More importantly, it could finally claim a win over a ranked opponent following seven failures.
The Seminoles' Natasha Howard scored a school-record 40 points as the Orange lost its second straight game Thursday night.
Even after Syracuse (17-6, 6-6 ACC) lost by 37 points to Notre Dame on Feb. 9, the Orange looked to be in prime position for a run at a tournament birth with soft schedule ahead. But after another blowout loss, this time at home against Florida State, it’ll be hard not to rethink that idea now.