Women’s Basketball: Terriers Are Narrowly Defeated in Season Opener
Featured image by Finley Rogan
By Finley Rogan
The Boston University Terriers Women’s Basketball team (0-1) was defeated 65-55 by the Quinnipiac Bobcats (1-0) Monday night at the Case Gym in Boston. After trailing by near double digits all game, BU held a lead with two minutes left before surrendering 11 unanswered points and eventually losing.
“I was actually really happy with our effort,” BU Head Coach Melissa Graves said. “I thought there were things you saw this year that you didn’t see last year about us defensively.”
Following some tunes from the BU band and the first lineup introductions of the year, the Terriers were ready to tip off the season.
Each team missed its first three attempts from the field before scoring any points. Junior guard Bella McLaughlin scored the first BU point of the season from the free throw line, and junior guard Inés Monteagudo Pardo made the first field goal with a 3-pointer moments later.
After trading early baskets, Quinnipiac needed a timeout; BU led 11-10 with 4:52 left in the first quarter. The Bobcats responded to the feisty BU start by going on an 11-2 run after the timeout. Quinnipiac led 21-12 at the end of the first quarter, shooting 3 of 6 from the 3-point line to open the game. BU, meanwhile, struggled offensively, shooting 5 of 15 from the field in the opening ten minutes.
Senior forwards Anastasiia Semenova and Anete Adler each made 3-pointers in the opening minutes of the second quarter for their first long-range makes of the season. Quinnipiac took further control in the second quarter by dominating the offensive glass. They led 6-1 in offensive rebounds during the second quarter, and they led the Terriers 32-20 at halftime.
The Bobcats were 14 of 37 from the field in the first half. Meanwhile, BU was just 8 of 27. The Terriers turned the ball over seven times with multiple errant passes and offensive fouls.
BU got the scoring started in the second half with junior guard Inés Monteagudo Pardo making her second 3-pointer of the game. Just over a minute later, junior guard Audrey Ericksen hit a 3- point shot, and the Terriers were back within striking range.
The Bobcats made a few shots of their own, but the Terriers were clawing back. Following two makes from the free throw line by junior guard Bella McLaughlin, BU trailed 37-32 with five minutes left in the third quarter.
With just under two minutes in the quarter, senior forward Anete Adler converted a key 3-point play which cut the Bobcat advantage to four. Quinnipiac held a slim 43-39 lead with 1:10 left in the third quarter.
BU won the third quarter 21-14, shooting an efficient 7 of 11 from the field in the period. The Terriers made all five free throws in the period after going 2 of 4 in the first half. Quinnipiac led 46-41 after three quarters of play.
Following a perfect trip to the free-throw line from senior forward Anete Adler, the Terriers trailed just 48-46 with eight minutes to go. Quinnipiac answered a minute later with a 3-pointer from Jackie Grisdale, but senior forward Anete Adler responded with a basket at the other end to keep the deficit at five. The Bobcats led 51-48 with 6:13 left in the game.
The Terriers got within one point, but a Quinnipiac 3-pointer brought the score to 54-53 with four minutes to go. A few possessions later, junior guard Audrey Ericksen hit a 3-point shot to bring BU back within one. Following a Bobcat turnover, Anete Adler made a layup to put BU back into the lead for the first time since the first quarter.
Quinnipiac answered by forcing a trip to the line and converting both attempts. They then hit a clutch 3-point shot to bring the lead back to four. The Terriers trailed 59-55 with 1:25 left.
The Bobcats got a stop and hit a consequential jump shot to bring their lead to six. BU then turned it over following a timeout and quickly fouled. Quinnipiac made all of its free throws in the final minute and wound up winning 65-55.
BU came so close in the end but fell just short. The defense led the way with a dominant press that forced 10 Bobcat turnovers in the second half.
“I think the ball pressure was the biggest piece,” Graves said.
BU will be back in action this Friday against Dartmouth at the Case Gym. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
“I hope that everybody, obviously, got to feel the loss a little bit, but I hope that everybody walks out of here knowing that Friday, we’re going to do the exact same thing, and we’re going to get a win,” junior guard Bella McLaughlin said.