The Boston University women’s basketball team will host Yale University this Tuesday night at Case Gym as the Terriers look for their second win in a row.
Rashidat Agboola scored 11 points and recorded nine rebounds last game.
BU (1-2) is coming off a 52-49 victory over the University of Rhode Island where three of its key forwards — seniors Rashidat Agboola and Whitney Turner and junior Mollie McKendrick — played strongly.
Turner and Agboola each nearly posted double-doubles. Agboola finished with nine rebounds and 11 points, while Turner had 10 rebounds and nine points.
“I like the way our team is playing,” said BU coach Kelly Greenberg. “We have a lot of positive energy on the court. It’s just a matter of translating that energy to wins. That’s something that I am hoping we can do against a good team.”
The team will be looking for more of an offensive influence from senior guard Danielle Callahan, who, after scoring a career-high 27 points in the first game of the season against Northeastern University, has gone 3-for-17 from the field in the last two games.
“I don’t see it as a shooting slump,” Greenberg said. “I just think that teams see that 27-point performance and they pressure her and double team her. Harvard and Rhode Island were both aware of it. She’s a great shooter though, so she’ll shoot herself right out of it and start making those baskets soon.”
Although the Terriers are coming off their first win, some of the freshmen have struggled to score consistently in the early part of the season, as guards Sarah Hope and Courtney Latham have shot a combined 5-for-19 from the field in the last two contests. Getting strong contributions from Hope and Latham would boost BU’s offense, and give the team depth at the guard position.
While the Terriers wait for some of their younger players to progress and come into their own, Greenberg said the team will continue to rely on the play of its seniors.
“Well, I’m really relying on our three seniors to lead us: Rashidat, Danielle and Whitney,” Greenberg said. “They’re all doing little things, but I’m still waiting for that one game where they’re all clicking on all cylinders.”
BU’s road to a second straight win will not be an easy one, as it will take on a tough Yale (2-1) squad. The Bulldogs’ offense is scoring 69.3 points per game, compared to BU’s average of 60.3 points in its three contests. Guard Sarah Halejian leads the Bulldogs in scoring, as she has averaged 12.3 points per game this season.
Although the Bulldogs have played well this season, Yale will be looking to bounce back from a loss in its previous contest, a 67-53 defeat at the hands of Sacred Heart University on Saturday.
For the Terriers, limiting their turnovers will be a key in the game, especially since Yale’s defense has recorded 7.7 steals a contest in its three games. After losing the ball 17 times in their first game, the Terriers committed 12 and 14 turnovers in their next two matchups respectively, something that has impressed their coach.
“I’m going to be honest and say that I have been happily surprised by how we are limiting turning the ball over,” Greenberg said. “It initially was a concern of mine, but I can say that it no longer is.”
Greenberg also said that the players should be a little less cautious when it comes to creating opportunities.
“I don’t want to say reckless, but maybe we should be a little more risky with the ball and take some chances,” Greenberg said.
The game against Yale will be the last contest the Terriers play at home until Dec. 14 because the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge runs Nov. 22 to Dec. 1 and keep the Terriers on the road.
Greenberg said she hopes BU can keep the momentum rolling before going on the extended road trip, something that is important to a largely inexperienced team.
“We’re just hoping to go out there and get the win,” Greenberg said. “We had a good practice [Monday] and we’re hoping to get another wintomorrow.”
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