Women’s Basketball: Virtual tour of freshman Riley Childs’ storied past

By: Andrew Mason

It’s a year of firsts for the Boston University women’s basketball team, which has been hard at work since the summer preparing for the 2017-18 Patriot League season. In addition to a brand new head coach, former University of Connecticut assistant, Marisa Moseley, the Terriers have welcomed in a talented freshman class.

One of four freshmen on the squad, Massachusetts’-native Riley Childs, boasts an impressive basketball resume. But even for an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) competitor since the fifth-grade, a Tri-Valley League MVP, and a Boston Globe official All-Star, adjusting to college-level play presents its challenges.

“The pace of the game is a lot faster [in college], and the girls are a lot stronger than they look too,” said Childs. “[I’ve had] to get used to being pushed around and to react to things 10-times quicker than in high school.”

Despite the struggles that come with joining a new team, Moseley noted that Childs has done a great job assimilating herself into the competitive BU basketball culture.

“Even if [Childs] is not in the right spot, she competes at a really high level all the time,” Moseley said. “She’s hard on herself, but that’s a good thing because she wants to be successful.”

While Boston University may be new turf to Childs, playing basketball in an unfamiliar location certainly is not. A talented player growing up, Childs travelled all around the east coast for AAU tournaments.

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For those who saw Childs play at Medway High School the past four years, her love for the game was evident. Now, as the Terriers hit the floor daily for preseason practices, Childs’ collegiate teammates have begun to recognize her eccentric passion.

“I love how hard [Childs] goes every play,” said sophomore teammate Mackenzie Miers. “She makes it fun playing with her and a struggle playing against her.”

Childs is set to make her collegiate debut during the Terriers’ first game of the season on Friday, Nov. 9 against Northeastern University. Even for a player as well-versed in the game as Childs, first-game jitters are bound to make a presence.

“Overall, I’m just excited,” said Childs. “But once the first game comes around, I’ll be more nervous.”

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