Basketball, Sports

Women’s basketball winning streak reaches 11 games

Returning from a 19-day break, the Boston University women’s basketball team continued to show why it is one of the top teams in America East, winning six games and expanding its current win streak to 11.

The Terriers (14–3, 4–0 America East) kicked off the second half of their season by participating in the Christmas City Classic basketball tournament in Bethlehem, Pa.

BU opened the two-day tournament with a game against Fairleigh Dickinson University on Dec. 29. The Terriers got off to a quick start, holding a 20-1 lead seven minutes into the game. FDU (8–7) struggled, as the Knights made their first field goal eight minutes into the game.

BU went on an 18–0 run over the span of seven minutes to extend its lead to 38–6. FDU fared better in the second half, outscoring BU 28–21, but it could not overcome the large deficit. BU won, 68–42.

Junior forward Rashidat Agboola led the Terriers with 17 points and also grabbed 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. BU shot a season-high 50 percent from the field

The next day, BU took on Lehigh University in the championship game. BU started off hot, leading 22–9 with seven minutes remaining in the first half. Lehigh (9–7) responded and cut BU’s lead to 27–19, but BU regained composure and went into the locker room with a 33–21 lead.

The Terriers opened the second half with a 10–2 run and later hit five 3-pointers to cruise to a 72–44 victory and capture the Christmas City Classic championship title.

“I’m really proud of the way the team returned from their long break at home,” said BU coach Kelly Greenberg. “They really came back very focused.”

Senior guard Mo Moran scored a team-high 16 points, while Agboola posted another double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Moran was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament and Agboola was named to the All-Tournament team. Moran was also named America East Player of the Week.

“Mo was just spectacular,” Greenberg said. “She had good numbers, but she was her typical self in that she was keeping us all together on the court and being our leader.”

The Terriers opened America East play with a match against Stony Brook University Jan. 2 at Pritchard Gym in Stony Brook, N.Y.

The Terriers took a 38–24 lead into halftime, shooting 45.2 percent from 3-point range in the first half. The second half was much closer, as Stony Brook (10–7, 2–2 America East) managed to cut the lead down to six points, 63–57. BU sealed the 72–61 victory with clutch free throw shooting.

This victory marked BU’s 11th consecutive victory over Stony Brook. Junior forward Whitney Turner had a career-high 12 rebounds, while senior guard Kristen Sims scored 18 points.

“Our game at Stony Brook … was key because we didn’t have a whole lot of time,” Greenberg said. “We were doing a lot of traveling … but we really got a great road victory.”

BU ended its road trip with a game against the University of Hartford on Jan. 5. In a low-scoring first half that included four scoreless minutes, BU took a 19–13 lead into halftime.

The second half was a battle, as Hartford (11–6, 2–2 America East) was within single digits for most of the frame. However, the Terriers held on for a 45–39 victory.

Agboola had a career-high 26 points, and was named America East Player of the Week for her performance.

“[Agboola] was the reason we won in the Hartford game,” Greenberg said. “She’s just really come into her own and we can really count on her.”

The Terriers returned home to Case Gym to take on the University of Vermont on Jan. 9. BU started off hot, entering halftime with a 34–12 lead.

BU’s offense suffered a seven-minute scoring drought at the start of the second half. Vermont cut the lead to 15, but a layup from Turner sparked a 13–0 run, and BU defeated Vermont, 58–30.

Sophomore forward Mollie McKendrick grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.

BU wrapped up its final game of the break at home against Binghamton University. It was a tight first half, with the Terriers heading into the half holding on to a two-point lead

The second half wasn’t much different, as Binghamton only trailed by three points with just over a minute remaining in the game. However, BU made 4-of-4 free throws in the final minute to seal the 57–52 win.

The Terriers made only 30.4 percent of their shots and went 3-for-23 from 3-point range in the win.

BU’s 11-game win streak is the team’s longest win streak since the Terriers won 13 consecutive games last year.

Greenberg referenced toughness as a major factor in the team’s success.

“We won [these games] in many different ways,” Greenberg said. “If you’re going to do that, you’re going to have to rely on toughness.”

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