The Boston University women’s basketball team came into this season with a new zone pressure defense. But after their first four games, it’s their offense that is getting rave reviews.
In their first four games, the Terriers have averaged 77.8 points per game, or almost 20 points higher than last year’s 57.9 point clip. And with their 98-80 win over Austin Peay University in the consolation game of the First Tennessee Tournament this past weekend in Nashville, Tenn., the Terriers tallied their second 90-point offensive performance of the season, the first time a Terrier team has done so since 1986-87. In addition, their 98 points was their highest total in a regulation game since a 99-57 thrashing of Central Connecticut State College on Dec. 13, 1980.
Yes, 20 years ago.
If only the defense wasn’t giving up 88.8 points per game, they might have more than one win right now.
“We’re playing a different type of defense than we did last year,” BU coach Margaret McKeon said. “And when you play an up-tempo style, the other team is going to score points on you. Where we need to improve defensively is on rebounding and limiting the opponent to one shot. But the thing is to just have more points at the end of the game.”
TERHUNE TEARIN’ IT UP
One of the players behind the offensive resurgence is freshman guard Katie Terhune.
In the second game of the year against Miami University (Ohio), Terhune scored 27 points, including a team-record 17 free throws in 18 attempts. Sunday, Terhune remained in the zone by hanging up 30 points on Austin Peay. In just her second game of the season against Miami, Terhune snapped the old program record for free throws made (13, set by Jill Sosnak in the 1990-91 season) and her 18 attempts tied the record set by former BU player and head coach Debbie Miller in 1980.
Not too shabby for a collegiate debut.
“I think that Katie came in here with a take-no-prisoners attitude,” McKeon said. “She’s very confident in her game and is gelling well with our group. I’m pleased with where she is at.”
Getting to the charity stripe frequently is something that Terhune has worked harder at while preparing to play at the college level.
“I worked really hard over the summer on free throws,” Terhune said. “I knew that I would get to the free-throw line a lot.”
ODDS AND ENDS
The Terriers will leave for Dallas on Thursday to play in a tournament at Southern Methodist University, and they may have junior guard Pilar Verde joining them. Verde, who came to the Terriers from Spain midway through last season and hasn’t played since bruising a bone in her ankle during the preseason, may get back on the court this weekend. “It’s still questionable if she’ll be back,” McKeon said. If she can’t play this weekend, she should be back for BU’s America East conference opener against the University of Maine on December 5th at The Roof. … Terhune was named America East Rookie of the Week after her first week of play. … The Terriers played in the state of Tennessee for the first time ever at the Vanderbilt Tournament this weekend.
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