Women’s Basketball: Hauck’s 22 leads Terriers to fourth straight road win
By: Ethan Fuller
BOSTON, MA– Senior guard Payton Hauck scored a season-high 22 points for Boston University on Wednesday, leading women’s basketball to a 61-53 triumph at Colgate University. The Terriers move to 8-4 in the Patriot League (12-10 overall) and now have a firm hold on third place in the conference standings, while the Raiders drop to 5-7 (9-13 overall).
Hauck led the scoring department for BU while shooting a strong 10-20 from the floor, and performed well on the glass, grabbing nine boards.
Rebounding was the Terriers’ secret to success against Colgate. Senior forward Nia Irving pulled down fourteen on the evening, Hauck and freshman Riley Childs added nine, and senior Naiyah Thompson helped off the bench with six. Overall, the squad outrebounded the Raiders 43-26, including an 18-7 edge on the offensive end.
The first quarter was controlled by BU, as the Terriers jumped out to an 18-10 lead early in the contest. But Colgate clawed back into the came, starting the second quarter on an 11-4 run. Guard Keelah Dixon, who scored nine points off the bench for the Raiders, hit a jumper to retake the lead at 23-22.
Both teams grappled with the lead for much of the second half. It wasn’t until the final six minutes that Naiyah Thompson scored down low to put the Terriers up 47-46. They would hold the lead for the remainder of the game, outscoring Colgate 12-6 in the closing minutes.
For the Raiders, guard Rachel Thompson contributed fourteen points, six rebounds and four assists, as well as five steals on the defensive end. The junior has put up excellent numbers in New York this season, but her efforts weren’t enough to push Colgate back to .500 in the conference.
Boston University’s Patriot League road tour de force continues. The Terriers, after going 0 for 6 on the road out of conference, have turned around and won six of their last seven away games.
In their last five games, the BU defense has been a signature attribute. Marisa Moseley’s squad has held opponents to under 60 points in four of those matchups, all resulting in wins. Come playoff time, that defensive intensity will prove critical in high-stakes games.
BU returns home on Saturday to take on the Holy Cross Crusaders, who are now riding a three game winning streak after edging out Navy. Junior Lauren Manis has been a force in purple, averaging 18 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.
The matchup will also host Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day as well as Pride Night. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside Case Gym.