Still searching for its first win of the 2015-16 season, the Boston University women’s basketball team will take on the University of New Hampshire Saturday.
While the Terriers (0-6) have struggled, the Wildcats (5-2) have been relatively unchallenged thus far. New Hampshire has scored at least 50 points in every one of its games thus far, while BU is yet to eclipse the 60-point mark.
Offensively, the Wildcats are led by seniors Corinne Coia and Elizabeth Belanger, as well as sophomore Carlie Pogue. The senior duo has combined to score 29.6 points per game (14.0 and 15.6, respectively), while Pogue is averaging 11.2 PPG seven games in.
Terrier sophomore forward Kara Sheftic will miss the contest due to a concussion, and BU coach Katy Steding said she feels that poses several challenges.
“With Kara suffering a concussion yesterday, it’s going to present more challenges because we’re thin at the post,” Steding said. “[UNH is] big inside, which poses its own set of challenges. … We’ll have our hands full inside, but I think we can stay with them by limiting their touches and beating them off the boards.”
The Wildcats typically control the glass, as they grab 7.7 more rebounds than their opponents. To counteract New Hampshire’s strong presence down low, Steding said BU will have to be smart on defense.
“We’re going use some doubling, some trapping action,” she said. “I think the more we can keep them spread out and make their passes longer and not so compact because they could go over the top of us pretty easily, so we’re going to limit their touches inside by putting a lot of pressure on them outside and get my kids to play very smart.”
BU will also need to come out ready to play from the opening whistle on Saturday. Opponents have outscored the Terriers 227-146 in the opening half of play this season, while the scoring margin is smaller in the second half. Oftentimes, it’s too little too late by the end of the first quarter, so it will be key for BU to get some momentum going in the opening minutes and stay active over all four quarters.
Despite a 70-57 loss Tuesday at the hands of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the result didn’t indicate the subtle improvements the Terriers made. Junior guard Sarah Hope scored 20 points and went 6-for-12 from deep. Graduate student guard Troi Melton’s also chipped in 16 points against the River Hawks (1-5), meaning BU now has a formidable one-two punch from the guard position.
Steding saw distinct improvement in Hope’s shooting touch against Lowell.
“I think Sarah finding her stroke is good progress for us,” Steding said. “She’s still battling back from her injury and it’s nice to have her feel her game again, and that is a strength of hers that we can use to our advantage. [Junior forward] Meghan Green had a really good game against Dartmouth [College] and we can still go to her. “
Steding also had praise for Melton, who led BU down the stretch last year.
“Troi’s been successful for us in every game,” she said. “We’re using those three as a triangle that buys some space for other kids to get points here and there, but we’re going to rely on those guys to carry the scoring load for us right now.”
