Women’s Basketball: Terriers use late push to complete road sweep
By: Ethan Fuller
BOSTON, MA — Boston University women’s basketball did not win a single non-conference road game in all of 2018-19.
Now — after completing a three-game trip — the team has yet to lose.
BU (3-1) finished with a 13-4 run that flipped a 47-54 deficit with seven minutes remaining into a 60-58 final score, giving the Terriers a nail-biting win over the University of Albany on Wednesday. The victory is their third of the season and third straight since dropping the season opener, with all three coming on the road.
The second half was particularly wild for the Terriers, who came out of the break with a 37-28 lead. They were promptly outscored by 16 points in 13 minutes of action before countering with the final 13-4 push. That crucial stretch saw the Great Danes fail to make a field goal while BU forced four turnovers in the final six minutes.
Nia Irving continued her strong post play by scoring a game-high 19 points to go with six rebounds and two assists. Irving was tasked with attacking the impressive size of Albany’s frontcourt, and she held her own against taller defenders.
That size was led by seniors Amanda Kantzy and Alexi Schecter, who respectively stand at 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-3. Kantzy led the way for the Great Danes with her 14 points and showed off immense three-level scoring ability, making six of her twelve shots and both three-pointers. Schecter, meanwhile, was quieter on the scoreboard but grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots.
But BU battled back. Freshman Maren Durant, who has improved off the bench in every game so far, pulled down six boards in just 14 minutes. Though Albany shot a lethal 6-for-13 from beyond the arc, the Terriers countered by outscoring them in the paint 42-14.
Head coach Marisa Moseley had her team switch between man and zone defense frequently, and the switch often coincided with brief rough stretches where the Great Danes could find pockets in the zone for open looks. But once the Terriers settled in, they could lock down their defenders. Freshman Sydney Johnson showed particular skill in jumping the passing lanes, ending the night with four steals.
BU still has to find some consistency from long range; the team shot just 21 percent on threes against Albany. Their free throws woes also continued, with the Terriers making only five of twelve from the line. But defense continues to be the key. After giving up 89 points to Marist in the season opener, BU held opponents to just 57 points per game during the road stint.
After nearly a week off, the Terriers return to Case Gym on Tuesday to face the Harvard Crimson. This will be another chance for Moseley’s squad to demonstrate growth, as they lost by 20 points in Cambridge last season. Tip-off for the next matchup is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
Featured Image courtesy of Brady Gardner.