Wednesday night, the Boston University women’s basketball team recorded its second win in as many games, a feat it had not accomplished since late December of 2013.
The Terriers (10-16, 5-8 Patriot League) defeated Colgate University at Case Gymnasium by a score of 72-68, due, in part, to an impressive career high 21-point performance from sophomore guard Clodagh Scannell.
“I think all these wins just come down to our team, you know, we’re just getting better every single day,” Scannell said. “It was a really good team win.”
Scannell started the night off a little shaky, missing her first seven attempts before recording a layup with 7:07 left in the first half. After that, she settled into the rhythm she’s been establishing over the past couple months, knocking down two 3-pointers in a row in the final two minutes of the half, effectively giving her team the lead going into halftime.
The sophomore would then tack on three more baskets from beyond the arc in the second in addition to two shots from the line and another layup from the field to finish out her night.
“I was very hesitant and nervous at the start,” Scannell said. “My shots weren’t falling, but when I just took a deep breath and settled down, my teammates got me the ball really good so I started just knocking down shots.”
Besides hitting double-digits points, Scannell also hit grabbed 10 boards, making it her second double-double of the season. Rebounding is something that BU coach Kelly Greenberg said she likes to see out of the guard, and it has helped her decision in promoting Scannell to starter in the last few weeks.
“We did want to mix it up,” Greenberg said. “We felt we were a little stagnant, and [wanted to] make a change to our starting lineup … [Scannell] just has a nice presence about her, she brings a lot to the table for us and maybe more so on the defensive end because of the rebounding, which you can never have enough of.
“She’s been great. Before I even look at the numbers, her presence for us rebounding wise—and she’s really rebounding the heck out of them—and when she rips it, I feel like everyone in the gym feels it or hears it.”
Leading up to her stint as a starter, Scannell had been showing signs of development, as she had put together several impressive double-digit performances. Since her role got upgraded eight games ago, she has posted an average of 10.38 points per game, and has pulled down seven rebounds per game in that span.
Points are not the only thing the sophomore is concerned with on the court, though. In addition to her success on the scoreboard, Scannell knows that there is another part of her game and presence on the floor that is of value to her teammates.
“I think I just have to become more of a leader,” Scannell said. “Myself and coach Greenberg always have a chat about me bringing energy, myself and [junior forward Mollie McKendrick] bringing energy to the game, and when I am feeling good about my shot, and when [McKendrick’s] feeling good it just [adds] to the overall game. Once everyone is feeding off that, the team does really well.
“When I’m knocking down shots, there’s a bit of energy there, and people feed off that,” she continued. “It’s really important [to bring that energy]. I’m only a sophomore, and I’ve a lot to learn, and I am learning every day. It means a lot to me that I’m such a big part of the team.”
Greenberg said likes what the Ireland native brings to the table for the Terriers, especially the kind of jumpstart she brings to the court.
“She just plays with great energy,” Greenberg said. “Anyone who comes and sees us play for the first time, whether it’s a family member in Pennsylvania or one of our staff’s friends, they’re like, ‘Wow! I love number 20 because she just really plays all out.’ She brings this great energy, great enthusiasm and it’s contagious.”
With Scannell in just her second year with the Terriers, she is more than thankful for not only her playing time, but just being able to wear the scarlet and white.
“It’s just a dream come true,” Scannell said. “Now I’m just living it, and I’m doing well, and I have great teammates and a great coaching staff. I’m just loving every second of it.”
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