Basketball, Sports

Women’s basketball caps regular season with Army win

Junior forward Kara Sheftic scored 12 points off the bench and proved key in the Terriers victory. PHOTO BY BRITTANY CHANG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Generally, when teams turn the ball more than 26 times and make one pair of 3-pointers, a loss is almost guaranteed.

However, for the Boston University women’s basketball team, in a campaign full of unsuspected victories, going against the grain is a common practice. The Terriers (13-16, 11-7 Patriot League) managed to overcome their struggles with offensive efficiency to knock off the United States Military Academy by a margin of 66-62.

“That was a huge win for us,” said BU head coach Katy Steding. “To get it on Army’s court [brings] momentum for us. This year [has included] many first victories and milestones. My hats go off to [the players]. They enjoy the process.”

Led by 12 points apiece from junior forward Kara Sheftic and freshman forward Nia Irving, in addition to an 11-point, seven-rebound and four-steal performance by senior guard Sarah Hope, the Terriers clinched their first triumph at Army since 1982. BU shook off the demons of Feb. 22, where they fell to the Black Knights (21-8, 12-6 Patriot League) 64-52 at Case Gym.

The Terriers dominated on the glass with a 37-27 rebounding advantage while managing to shoot 49 percent from the field and 14-of-15 from the free-throw line, a monumental harbinger overshadowing their turnover issues. BU matched the physicality of the Black Knights with a measurable amount of intensity, countering Army with fiery play throughout.

Irving was a major factor in the Terriers controlling the rebounding edge, coming down with seven boards of her own.

“[Irving] brought the toughness on the boards,” said Steding. “She is not afraid. She will take a hit and she keeps on coming back from it. That has been a real spark for us. She does not always look orthodox, but you have to respect her as a player. She is just relentless.”

The squad overcame 15 points from the Patriot League’s leading scorer forward Madison Hovren, and guard Janae McNeal’s 12 points, six rebounds and six steals to record the win.

With Hovren watching from the bench as Army celebrated senior night, the Terriers started out the game on an 11-0 roll. Hope was critical in the early surge, knocking down a running jump shot, canning a wing 3-pointer, driving baseline for a layup, and assisting on a jump shot by senior forward Meghan Green.

Realizing the ineffectiveness of their half-court defense, the Black Knights decided to exploit the absence of one of BU’s primary ball handlers, senior guard Courtney Latham. They opted to apply full-court pressure on the Terriers, and it worked to perfection. Army forced eight turnovers over the course of first quarter, riding a 12-2 surge to knot the game at 17-17 heading into the second quarter.

Sheftic provided the Terriers with a boost off the bench, piping in four consecutive points to give the team a 23-17 lead. Sheftic’s eight points piloted BU to a 33-28 halftime lead, an advantage buoyed by a plethora of fast break opportunities. Despite hitting just one 3-pointer, the Terriers remained afloat on the heels of a 19-13 rebounding advantage.

BU’s turnover woes returned at the outset of the third quarter, as they turned it over on seven occasions in the third quarter. With the combination of an and-one finish by Army center Lena’ Hicks, a layup by Janae McNeal, and a floater by Hovren, the Black Knights garnered their first lead of the night with just under four minutes remaining in the stanza.

The game remained a seesaw affair throughout the first few minutes of the fourth quarter until a quick 5-0 run by the Black Knights provided them with a 56-52 lead with six minutes remaining. However, consecutive buckets by Sheftic and Irving erased the Army surge.

The squads traded buckets for a few minutes before junior center Sophie Beaudry began to assert her will. Teetering on the brink of fouling out, she knocked down a 15-foot jumper from the high elbow to tie the game at 60 before finding Irving on a cut for an and-one finish to give BU a 63-60 lead with just over 90 seconds remaining.

A steal-and-score by McNeal with a minute left cut the lead to just one. Hovren was unable to get her layup to fall on the ensuing Army possession and despite an offensive rebound by junior guard Destinee Morris, junior Corrine Williams proceeded to intercept a pass and flip the ball to Hope. The tried-and-trusted senior knocked down both foul shots with 10 seconds left, giving the Terriers a 65-62 lead.

Irving then canned a foul shot to ice the contest, handing the Terriers the emotional victory.

“These guys are sometimes more composed than I am,” said Steding. “They kept it together real well. We just tried to talk them through every possession.”

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