After a home loss to the University of New Hampshire Monday night, the Boston University women’s basketball team looks to bounce back in the ASU Classic in Tempe, Arizona this weekend.
The two-day weekend tournament features four teams: BU (1-5), Arizona State University, the University of Florida and California State University, Long Beach.
The Terriers’ first game of the tournament is against Arizona State (3-2) on Saturday afternoon. The outcome of that game will determine whether they play Long Beach State (3-3) or Florida (5-1) in their final game on Sunday.
BU has been struggling offensively, which could continue against a stout Arizona State defense this weekend, as the Sun Devils allow just 55.2 points per game and force 18.6 turnovers per game.
Not only have the Terriers shied away from attacking the basket, but they have also had continuous trouble handling the ball. The team averages close to 19 turnovers per game this season.
“We have to deal with their full court pressure,” said BU head coach Katy Steding. “They are a very up-and-down team. We know what to expect — we just have to take care of the ball.”
Another apparent problem in the Terriers’ offense is inconsistent production from key players, as senior guard Sarah Hope is the only player who averages more than 10 points per game.
Junior guard Corrine Williams scored a game-high 19 points in the team’s win against University of Massachusetts Lowell last Saturday, but scored a meager four points in Monday’s loss to New Hampshire.
BU will need its better players to perform more consistently if it wants to do well in the ASU Classic.
However, despite their shortcomings on offense, the Terriers still maintain an aggressive defense. This season, they have forced 18.8 turnovers per game.
If the Terriers can minimize committing fouls, their strong defense can counteract their inefficient offense.
Steding is pleased with her team’s progress, but said it is working on defending without fouling and taking the ball to the basket on offense.
“I am very happy with the progress the team is making,” Steding said. “We have to try and keep our post players out of foul trouble. We’re also going to focus on making more backdoor cuts and getting into the paint.”
Both Long Beach State and Florida are strong on offense, as they each have had multiple double-digit wins this season. The 49ers defeated University of Houston 65-55 on Nov. 18, and four of the Gators’ five victories have been by double digits.
To go along with their good scoring, the squads shoot at fairly high percentages, which makes them hard to defend. Long Beach State shoots 39.2 percent, and Florida shoots 46.8 percent.
The competition poses a good test for a developing Terriers team.
“This weekend we’re going to be playing some of the top teams in the nation,” Steding said. “Arizona State is a ranked team, Florida is a ranked team and Long Beach State is also an excellent team.”
BU is going to compete with some of the nation’s best teams right now, which, regardless of the outcome, will surely help the team learn and grow, Steding said.
“I’m excited. This tournament is going to help our team’s development.”
