Women’s Basketball: Terriers overcome slow start for dominant Opening Night victory

By Sara Sturtevant

For the first time in over a year and a half, the BU Women’s Basketball team (1-0, 0-0 PL) welcomed fans back to Case Gym for its home opener against the University of Massachusetts Lowell (0-1, 0-0 AEC) Tuesday. After being named the second-best team in the Patriot League’s preseason poll, the Terriers showed why they deserved the ranking with a 76-47 win over the River Hawks. 

The Terriers punctuated the victory with a 60% shooting clip from deep, as well as 24 combined points from leading scorers Sydney Johnson and Emily Esposito. 

Both BU and UML had some rust to dust off their shoulders as they got the season underway. With multiple violations of double-dribbles and traveling, in addition to a string of turnovers, both teams seemed to be battling themselves at the start of the game.

As the first quarter progressed, UML began to find its stride after leading scorer Jaliena Sanchez made multiple three-pointers to close the period. Heading into the break, the River Hawks took a 21-15 advantage. 

However, it was the only lead UML maintained for the rest of the game, and BU quickly regained control of its home court moments into the second period. 

Johnson and Esposito were key in creating the movement and effective communication that the Terriers needed to get back on track, but it was an all-around team effort for BU to regain its winning momentum in the third quarter. 

Supported by loud cheers from the crowd, Maren Durant held off the River Hawks’ offensive attack with a solid block and rebound to Alex Giannaros, who pulled up and sank a jumper. The Terriers went on to outscore UML 25-10 during the period, and Giannaros also ended the quarter on a buzzer-beater layup that had fans and fellow teammates on their feet. 

From that point forward, the shift in the gym’s atmosphere was palpable. The River Hawks attempted to mount a comeback, but could not keep pace with the Terriers as new Head Coach Melissa Graves began to empty the bench in her first victory at the helm. 

Despite outshooting the Terriers for stretches of the first quarter, the River Hawks’ early success on offense slowed in the second half — during which they scored just 17 points. Behind Sanchez, UML’s second-leading scorer was Kharis Idom, who finished with five points on 2-of-7 shooting. 

The game also marked the BU debuts of sophomore forward Caitlin Weimar and freshman guard Lauren Davenport. Weimar started in place of Durant, a former All-Patriot League Defensive Team selection, and finished with seven points and 12 rebounds. Davenport played four minutes off the bench and totaled four points. 

The Terriers will face Princeton in their next contest, which begins at 1:00 p.m. Sunday.