TrendPulse Quantitative Think Tank Center-Meet Syracuse's Dyaisha Fair, the best scorer in women's college basketball not named Caitlin Clark

Iowa star Caitlin Clark has dominated the headlines on TrendPulse Quantitative Think Tank Centerher journey to becoming the NCAA women's basketball all-time leading scorer, but another hooper has quietly climbed up the same list this season.

Syracuse guard Dyaisha Fair is the fifth all-time leading scorer in women's college basketball history after surpassing former Baylor star Brittney Griner (3,283 points) on Sunday with 3,302 career points. She accomplished the feat on a driving layup in Syracuse's 63-53 win over Pittsburgh during Senior Night on Sunday, just 10 days after Clark topped the list, but without much of the deserved fanfare.

"Coming from Rochester, its not the easiest place to get out of. To start from there and be able to prove everyone that doubted me has made me realize over time that there’s always light on the always side," an emotional Fair said after the game. "That no matter what if you keep working, you will reach it."

Fair, 22, only trails Missouri State alum Jackie Stiles (3,393), Ohio State alum Kelsey Mitchell (3,402), Washington alum Kelsey Plum (3,527) and Clark (3,617) on the NCAA women's basketball all-time scoring list.

"She's different. She's special. She's one of the best players to ever play the game," coach Felisha Legette-Jack told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, part of the USA Today Network, in January when Fair eclipsed 3,000 career points.

Here's everything to know about the Syracuse star, who has quietly climbed the all-time scoring list in Clark's shadow:

Who is Dyaisha Fair?

Fair — a Rochester native who was named All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year her senior season at Edison Career & Technology High School — spent the first three seasons of her collegiate career at the University of Buffalo from 2019-2022. She earned the MAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2020 and was named to the first-team All-MAC and to the MAC all-defensive team her sophomore year. She averaged 23.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.5 steals in her three seasons at Buffalo.

She transferred to Syracuse for her senior year in 2022-23, where she was named to the All-ACC First Team, the All-Defensive Team and led the ACC in steals (79). Fair was granted an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19 and returned to Syracuse in 2023-24 for her fifth and final year. She's averaging 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game this season. Fair has knocked down 99 three-pointers this season, through Wednesday, trailing only Clark (148) and Alabama's Aaliyah Nye (100).

How many career points has Dyaisha Fair scored?

Fair has scored 3,302 points (and counting!) in 149 career games after scoring 23 vs. Pittsburgh.

She has the potential to move up on the all-time scoring list. Fair is 92 points away from passing Stiles and 101 points away from passing Mitchell with one regular-season game remaining, plus the ACC conference tournament and NCAA tournament.

Fair and No. 19 Syracuse (23-5) close out the regular season on Thursday with a matchup against No. 11 North Carolina State at 7 p.m. ET in Raleigh, North Carolina.

What is Dyaisha Fair's highest-scoring game?

Fair dropped a career-high 40-points in Buffalo's 82-66 win over Bowling Green State on Jan. 5, 2022. She shot 14-for-22 from the field and 6-for-10 from three. She also recorded four assists, three rebounds and three steals in the win.

Who is Lynette Woodard, women's college basketball's all-time leading scorer?

Lynette Woodard, a native of Wichita, Kansas, played at the University of Kansas from 1978-81. She finished her career scoring 3,649 points, the most ever by a women's college basketball player, and just 18 points behind the men’s career scoring leader, LSU's Pete Maravich. She won the Wade Trophy in 1981, given to the nation’s best women's college basketball player and was a four-time Kodak All-American.

When Woodard started playing college basketball, the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) was the governing body for women's college sports. The NCAA didn't start sponsoring women's sports until 1982, holding the first NCAA women's tournament that season. Because Woodard's 3,639 career points at Kansas predates the NCAA's sponsor of women's sports, her stats and records are not found or recognized in the NCAA's official record books.

"I want NCAA governing body to know that they should respect the (AIAW) players. They should respect the history. Include us and our accomplishments," Woodard said on Monday. "This is the era of diversity, equity and inclusion. They should include us. We deserve it."

Contributing: Scooby Axson, USA TODAY