The Boston University women’s basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak on Wednesday at Case Gymnasium, when it beat the University of Massachusetts by a final score of 66-49. Sophomore guard Mo Moran finished with 20 points and seven assists.
“We kept saying as a staff that we were just one win away from just feeling better,” said BU coach Kelly Greenberg. “Tonight was the win needed to break that streak.”
Despite falling behind early, the Terriers (3-7) took an eight-point lead going into halftime. The team never looked back from there and secured another home win.
“I think that being at home really gives us a lot of fire early,” said junior guard Alex Young.
The guards for BU played very well, with strong play from Moran as well as 14 points for Young and 13 points from sophomore guard Chantell Alford. The three guards combined for a total of eight 3-pointers on the night as well.
“I’m really happy with our guard play,” Greenberg said. “From the get go, I thought all three guards were pretty loose and that’s what we have been looking for.”
Defensively, the Terriers stepped up to the task against the Minutewomen (1-8), forcing 22 turnovers in the game, 14 of those coming in the first half. The BU defense did not allow many easy attempts as UMass only shot the ball 47 times in the entire game resulting in a 36.2 field-goal percentage.
“I thought they got a little conservative and didn’t know what we were doing,” Greenberg said. “We put them on their heels a little bit”
Moran, who already has one triple-double this season, played all 40 minutes against the Minutewomen. This game was another display of the talent that Moran brings to the team.
“Things really started with Mo,” Greenberg said. “She was just solid all around.”
Moran and Alford began last game against Northeastern University on the bench before starting again Wednesday night. The move seems to have helped the two guard’s production as both have had two strong games in a row.
“Everyone on the team is talented so I don’t think it matters who starts,” said Moran. “But I definitely think I wanted to come out with more fire”.
Freshman Rashidat Agboola almost had the first double-double of her collegiate career off the bench, scoring career highs with eight points and eight rebounds. Agboola is the latest Terrier player to come off the bench and perform well as it has been a recurring theme all year.
“We’re really looking for some consistency off our bench,” Greenberg said. “Rashidat plays with really good energy and plays hard. I’m really happy for her tonight.”
Next up for the Terriers is a road game at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. on Saturday. Marist has established itself as a very strong women’s basketball program over the past seven years and will be a very tough test for BU as it looks to expand upon this win.
“The last two years we have really played some good games against them,” Greenberg said. “Marist is certainly on the map nationwide, and let’s just play and build on tonight.”
For now though, BU has its first few consecutive days off in a row. With all the tough games the team has in the past few days, this will be a time to recover.
“The girls really deserve a day off,” Greenberg said. “The girls are tired. So we will take off tomorrow and then clean up some stuff from tonight and on Friday.”
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