Women’s Basketball: Terriers look to bounce back in home-opener Monday night
By: Andrew Mason
After a rough 81-51 loss on Friday to Northeastern, the Boston University women’s basketball team (0-1) is ready to go for its official home-opener. Welcoming in the Brown University Bears (1-1), their first of 13 home games tips off at 7 p.m. on Monday night in Case Gym.
Projected Starting Lineup:
Despite the blowout opening-day loss, it would be a surprise if head coach Marisa Moseley chose to deviate from the same five that began on Friday.
– Guard, Lauren Spearman
– Guard, Katie Nelson
– Guard/Forward, Payton Hauck
– Forward, Nia Irving
– Forward, Naiyah Thompson
Senior Lauren Spearman led BU with 14 points in 36 minutes against the Huskies. The Terriers struggled last season finding someone who could make tough shots in clutch moments. As the season gets going, perhaps Spearman can fill that role. On the other end of the court, she is beginning to develop into the Terriers’ preliminary defender.
“[Spearman] has the ability to get up and pressure and defend the other team’s’ best player,” said Moseley. “I was proud of what she did [on Friday] and I want her to definitely build on that.”
Sophomore Katie Nelson, who led BU in scoring for the majority of her freshman year, has not hit her stride offensively yet. Brown is a solid defensive team, but Nelson thrives at home, where she put up nine points and eight assists in the 2017-18 home-opener.
Monday night, Spearman and Nelson will need to be on their defensive A-game to stop Brown guards Justine Gaziano and Shayna Mehta. The pair of upperclassmen average 34 points combined so far for the Bears, and can hit shots from anywhere on the floor.
Moseley noted earlier in the week that Brown is a shooting threat, particularly from beyond the arc.
“We can’t give up wide-open threes,” Moseley said. “They penetrate and kick a lot, so we have to make sure we are ready for those shooters.”
The Terriers will continue to be without freshman Riley Childs and sophomore Tenisha Pressley due to injuries. Junior Nia Irving, who left Friday’s game early due to a right forearm injury, is healthy and set to go against Brown.
The Bears grabbed a 92-68 win over the scarlet and white last December, when these squads most recently met up. Irving led the Terriers with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while the duo of Gaziano and Mehta combined for 44 points, seven assists, and 11 boards.
Tip-off between the Terriers and the Bears is set for 7 p.m. on Monday night from Case Gym on the campus of BU.