For the past few years, the Boston University women’s basketball team has been struggling to compete in the America East Conference, but this season has proven the team is playing to win.
In coach Magaret McKeon’s first two seasons on the bench, the Terriers finished in 10th and eighth place in the conference, respectively. Last season did contain a big win for the program, an 82-72 win over Hofstra University in the America East Tournament, but the Terriers came into this year looking for much more.
The Terriers fell in a tough, but exciting game Saturday to an experienced University of Vermont squad, 76-65. The Terriers led at the half and hung in the game until the last minute. The difference in expectations, however, could be seen in McKeon’s comments postgame.
“The good thing is, we can improve,” McKeon said. “And I don’t think we played our best game today.”
The fact McKeon can say that with a straight face shows where the team is headed. In a game where BU shot 45 percent from the floor, including 53 percent in the first half and 7-of-13 from three-point land, it would be tough for any observer to say that this wasn’t the best performance of the year. But McKeon thinks otherwise.
“There are things that we could’ve done in the second half that we really just didn’t execute,” McKeon said.
The coach is not the only person with increased expectations for the team. While Vermont was dribbling out the last few seconds Saturday, the facial expressions on the bench were ones of disappointment and anger, whereas in the past few years, the players might have been happy just to stay in a game like this.
McKeon said her team has grown during the first few months of the season.
“I feel pretty confident [for the rest of the season],” she said. “I think every game we grow, every game we improve.
McKeon’s confidence has clearly rubbed off on her players. While everyone looks to sophomore Katie Terhune for leadership, the Terriers’ hot start on Saturday can be largely attributed to freshman Larissa Parr.
Parr was 7-of-10 in the first half and showed her versatility during the afternoon, scoring in a variety of ways. There were turn-around spin moves from the post, up-and-under layups, offensive putbacks, 15-foot jumpers and even a three-pointer early in the second half.
While the Terriers know Terhune will be up there on the score sheet each night, if they can get a few more repeat performances from Parr and some of the other younger role players, they could be a force to be reckoned with in the future. But with the America East Tournament exactly one month away, McKeon thinks the future is now.
“People are starting to understand their roles and step up,” she said. “It could be a very interesting February and an interesting March.”
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