Women’s Basketball: Terriers Have a Chance to Rebound After Ugly Loss Against Lehigh

Featured image by Jackson Shahinfar

By Brendan Galvin

The next two games for the Boston University women’s basketball team have a chance to influence their season’s trajectory significantly. Currently sitting at 1-4 in Patriot League play but just three games out of first place, their upcoming games against Army and Navy are the perfect bounce-back opportunities. 

The Terriers will enter the two-game homestand coming off one of their worst games of the Melissa Graves era. Leading 33-30 at the half against Lehigh, they were then outscored 50-21 in the second half. 

Now, BU has a chance to rebound from the ugly loss in their next two games against two teams tied at the top of the Patriot League. 

They will first host Army on Saturday afternoon as they look to avenge an early-season loss against the Black Knights. In early January, BU lost 69-59 in West Point despite a fourth quarter in which the Terriers outscored Army 18-5. 

While the Black Knights have just two players averaging double-digit points, they still sit tied for first in the conference with a 4-1 Patriot League record. Senior guard Trinity Hardy, who averages 14 points per game, will be a player to look out for on Saturday. Sophomore wing Fiona Hastick led the team in their last game against Lafayette with 20 points, including four threes. Be on the lookout for how the Terriers defend Army from outside the perimeter. 

Army enters Saturday looking to win its second consecutive game, while the Terriers will look to snap a two-game losing streak. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. 

The Terriers will then go from one Patriot League standings-leader to another, this time hosting Navy on Wednesday morning. 

This will be the first of two matchups between the teams, following a season series sweep by the Terriers last season. 

The Midshipmen are led by sophomore guard Zanai Barnett-Gay, averaging 20 points, eight rebounds, and three assists per game. Last season, she torched the Terriers for 23 and 26 points. Watch how BU tries to limit the offensive attack of Navy’s leading offensive weapon. 

Like Navy, the Terriers only have one player averaging double-digit points— senior guard Alex Giannaros, averaging 14.6 points per game. The main problem going forward for the Terrier will be playing a complete 40-minute game. They played a strong first half in their last game against Lehigh, but quickly fell apart after halftime. Look out for how Graves’ squad tries to piece together two solid halves against two strong conference opponents. 

Nonetheless, the next two games will play a significant role in the season outlook for BU. String together two wins, and you’re right back in the mix for a Patriot League regular season title. Lose both and not only extend your losing streak to four games but also question if this team can go anywhere in the Patriot League tournament.