Terrier senior guard Mo Moran has averaged 5.9 assists per game in a season during which she played a large role in getting BU to the NIT.
Prior to the start of the 2012-13 season, the Boston University women’s basketball team knew the road to a postseason berth was going to be difficult after being barred from competing in the America East Conference postseason tournament.
Although the Terriers (23-5, 13-2 America East) did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament, they did post good enough numbers to be selected to compete in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament for the fourth time in five seasons.
“We were just on the edge of getting in,” said BU coach Kelly Greenberg of the NCAA Tournament. “We were, I think, 67. I’m very proud of our players. They did everything they could.”
Thursday night, the Terriers are set to face off against Sacred Heart University.
Playing in their last season together, senior guards Chantell Alford and Mo Moran were a dynamic duo and major factors in the team’s success.
Alford, who came into the season with two consecutive America East Player of the Year awards, did not disappoint in her final season at BU. After opening the campaign up with 17 points against rival Boston College, she followed with a career-high 30 points in a close battle against West Virginia University, in which the Terriers fell 67-64.
Alford has been consistent all year and has led the Terriers in points per game, averaging an impressive 16.6 points, along with a team-best 42.2 percent from behind the 3-point arc. Her play earned her a spot on the Mid-Major All-America Third Team along with her fourth All-Conference award in the America East.
The other half of the backcourt duo did not disappoint either. Moran, in her final season with the Terriers, played strong at the point guard position. Moran led BU with 5.9 assists per game, which eventually placed her ninth on the all-time BU assists list. To go along with her impressive assist totals, Moran also scored 10.4 points per game with 4.1 rebounds.
“They are tremendous players for this program,” Greenberg said. “They’re the ultimate team players. They’re so humble. I’ve been extremely fortunate.”
Although Moran and Alford have led the Terriers all season long, other players have been essential to the team’s success as well
Junior forward Rashidat Agboola has been a force on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Agboola is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.8 points. She also leads the team in rebounds, grabbing 8.9 boards per game.
Agboola’s partner in the paint, junior forward Whitney Turner, has been a huge factor on the defensive side of the ball for the Terriers. She is second on the team in rebounding, catching 6.4 off the glass per game. Guarding the inside shot is her specialty — she is tied with Agboola for the team lead in blocks, swatting away 1.6 per contest.
Off the bench, the Terriers have had a spark plug in the form of junior guard Danielle Callahan. Coming off a season where she sat out due to injury, Callahan has been impressive for the Terriers. She averages 7.9 points per game and has also shot the third-highest 3-point percentage on the squad, hitting 37 percent of her shots from behind the arc.
BU’s opponent in the opening round of the WNIT is a tough one, and one that is completely unfamiliar. BU has never faced Sacred Heart (22-10) in the history of its women’s basketball program.
The Pioneers are led by their strong offense, scoring 63 points per contest and posting a 38.3 shooting percentage from the field. Guard Gabrielle Washington leads the team in offense, averaging 16.8 points per game with a field goal percentage of 37.1. Washington also nailed 92.5 percent of her free throws.
To couple with the impressive numbers of Washington, forward Morgan Merriman is second on the team in scoring average, dropping 11.2 per game with a shooting percentage of 45.7. To go along with her great shooting numbers, Merriman also grabbed 5.5 rebounds per effort.
Despite never having played Sacred Heart, Greenberg said the team can still come up with a game plan for Thursday.
“We see them quite a bit on tape,” Greenberg said. “We can get tape on almost anyone now-a-days.”
Greenberg also said the team is excited to be playing and hosting a WNIT game.
“We get to host a playoff game, unlike last year,” Greenberg said. “We like our seed and we’re really excited, especially after having some time off.”
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