Coming off a freshman season with minimal playing time and no games started, sophomore forward Meghan Green has become the premier scorer for the Boston University women’s basketball team.
Green leads the Terriers (4-15, 1-7 Patriot League) in both points (13.1) and rebounds (7.5) per game and is in the top-10 in the Patriot League in both categories.
This BU squad has needed every bit of it too. After losing top scorers Danielle Callahan and Rashidat Agboola from the previous season to graduation, BU has been left with only one senior in forward Mollie McKendrick.
With just three upperclassmen on the roster, the Terriers have debuted a variety of new lineups and Green has benefitted the most.
“She’s been working really hard at being consistent,” said BU coach Katy Steding. “We definitely run stuff for her, run stuff through her and run stuff to her. I think she’s been benefiting from that, and she’s one of our best finishers.”
The Bedford, New Hampshire native has scored double-digit points in 10 of the Terriers’ 19 games this season and in seven of her last eight.
Not only is Green productive on the stat sheet, but she has also been efficient from the field, leading the team by shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 84.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Green’s biggest game of the season came against Boston College on Nov. 20, 2014 when she scored 22 points and pulled down 15 rebounds in a 73-56 loss.
Although Green started the season in the starting lineup, she has now shifted to contributing off the bench as freshman forward Kara Sheftic has been starting in her place recently, though Sheftic only averages 16.3 minutes per game while Green averages 30.1.
This transition has allowed Green to become the primary scorer when the second unit hits the floor.
In her freshman season, Green was awarded the Patriot League Rookie of the Week Honors on Dec. 30, 2013, prior to the first double-double of her career against the College of the Holy Cross on Jan. 2, 2014. Green has had three double-doubles this season.
This will be necessary going forward as BU has lost its second leading scorer for what looks to be an extended period of time. Sophomore guard Sarah Hope averaged 9.7 points per game before succumbing to injury. Hope is also crucial in distributing the ball, as she is second on the team in assists with 49. Only sophomore guard Courtney Latham has more with 56.
Without Hope, the Terriers will have to focus on getting Green the ball and distributing to role players such as redshirt junior Troi Melton and freshman guard Corrine Williams, who are averaging 5.5 and 4.2 points per game, respectively.
Hope will be missed most on the 3-point line, as she is second in the Patriot League in 3-point field goals made per game on the season.
Steding said giving younger players extended minutes is one of the ways the Terriers will stay afloat going forward.
Freshman guard Meghan Doogan played 21 minutes in BU’s last game against Bucknell University Saturday and had eight points, including going 2-4 from the 3-point line.
“Without Sarah in there, we’re down a significant scorer and shooter, and aside from that, her leadership and poise on the court,” Steding said. “Sarah was a big part of what we were doing offensively, so it changes things in that we need to get different scoring from other players like Courtney [Latham] and Troi [Melton] and Corrine [Williams] and other folks, so I was really happy that Meghan Doogan has stepped up and started taking minutes.”
