Women’s Basketball: Terriers Face Must-Win Stretch, Starts With Rematch Against Bucknell

Featured image by Elyse Paugh

By Brendan Galvin

The clock is ticking for the Boston University women’s basketball team. 

With just seven games left in the regular season, there is little room for error, sitting just one ahead of last place in the Patriot League. 

While the Terriers (8-14, 2-9 PL) sit five games back from the top half of the conference, and a jump that high may be unrealistic at this point in the season, they are just one game behind seventh. As the standings continue to shake out down the stretch, the difference between the ninth seed and seventh seed is big. 

Sneaking into the seven-seed could mean avoiding playing the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the first round, and instead playing a potential third or fourth seed in teams like Navy or Colgate. 

BU’s only conference wins have come against last-place American and second-place Holy Cross. But, they have held their own against teams like Navy or Bucknell.

Their next opportunity to gain an edge in the Patriot League standings come in a visit from the Bison (12-10, 7-4 PL) on Wednesday night. In their first matchup Jan. 25, Bucknell led for 36 minutes and by as many as 17 points en route to a 74-59 win over BU. 

The Terriers were able to get the lead down to two possessions midway through the third, but could never fully get back in the game, trailing by double digits the entire fourth quarter. 

Looking ahead to Wednesday, junior forward Anete Adler will look to have another impact game as she did in the two teams’ first meeting. During a season in which she’s averaging just above six points, Adler dominated the paint, scoring 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting. 

The guard combo of sophomore Aoibhe Gormley and Alex Giannaros also had big days in their first game against the Bison, combining for 21 points, six steals, and nine assists. 

Keep an eye out for freshman forward Allison Schwertner, who struggled offensively against Bucknell, shooting just 4-of-10 from the field, but also hauling in three rebounds and totaling two assists. 

For the Bison, it’s been all sophomore forward Ashley Sofilkanich on the offensive side, with the 2023-2024 All-Defensive Team and All-Rookie Team member averaging more than 20 points and nine rebounds a game. 

In their first matchup, Sofilkanich totaled 22 points, but was also supported by 40 combined points from junior guard Sophia Sabino, freshman wing Reese Zemitis and sophomore forward Tuana Coskun. 

Keep an eye out for how head coach Melissa Graves’ squad limits the scoring impact of Sofilkaich, while also trying to quiet her supporting cast. 

Tip-off in the Terriers’ latest effort to climb out of the Patriot League standings basement is set for 6pm.