With the Boston University women’s basketball team trailing by two points in the final three minutes of a cut-throat road contest against the United States Military Academy, junior center Sophie Beaudry found herself standing 15 feet from the basket with the shot clock dwindling.
Holding the ball on the right elbow, Beaudry used her 6-foot-5 frame to see over the top of the defense and scan the floor, searching for an open cutter sprinting into the paint. With nothing available, she proceeded to reach into her newfound bag of offensive tricks, facing up and canning a picturesque jump shot to tie the game up at 60 apiece with just 2:27 remaining.
Beaudry’s offensive repertoire has exploded over the course of the season, with her budding skill set becoming a primary reason why the Terriers concluded the season fifth in the Patriot League. After posting just 2.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in her sophomore campaign at Monmouth University in 2014-15, the Quebec native has come into her own at BU under the direction of head coach Katy Steding.
“I [have learned] to be more confident and to be there for my team,” said Beaudry. “I am actually capable of being an offensive [threat] who blocks shots. I just had to build up that confidence like, ‘I can do this!’”
Beaudry’s comfort in the Terriers’ system has been evident throughout Patriot League play. She finished the conference slate eighth in scoring (12.9 points per game), 12th in rebounding (6.1 boards per game) and first in blocks (2.1 blocks per game). Meanwhile, her efficiency from the field was off the charts, as she led the conference with a shooting percentage of 51.1 percent.
“When I think about the enjoyable parts of the season, it is Sophie coming into her own in the Patriot League,” said head coach Katy Steding.
The advancements in Beaudry’s ability to make an impact on her team’s winning ways have been measurable as the season has progressed. After her not having performed in a college basketball game for over 18 months due to NCAA guidelines mandating players to sit out a year following a decision to transfer, it took Beaudry a moment to become re-acclimated with the pace of collegiate play.
In the Terriers’ season opener against Northeastern University, Beaudry shot just 2-of-12 from the field. Her 13-rebound showing against Boston College showcased to Steding that she was deserving of a consistent role in the starting lineup, however, a concussion sustained in a loss to Harvard University on Nov. 22 forced her to the sidelines for a week, delaying her progress.
Despite the setback, Beaudry appeared rejuvenated amidst returning from injury. In just 18 minutes of playing time in her reinstatement to the lineup on Nov. 28 against the University of New Hampshire, she went 6-for-10 from the field en route to notching 12 points, her first double-digit scoring performance of the year.
Beaudry managed to match the 20-point milestone for the first time in her career in a Dec. 10 loss to Marist College. By then, she was well prepared for Patriot League competition.
“[Beaudry] can really be a leader inside,” said Steding. “Even when she’s being double and triple-teamed. Her looking for her teammates first before [trying to] score is amazing.”
After posting an average of 11 points per game in the first four conference games on BU’s slate, Beaudry’s name bursted onto the Patriot League leaderboards following the Terriers’ bout with American University on Jan. 11. Despite the loss, Beaudry enjoyed a breakout outing, piling up a career-high 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting to accompany five blocks, kicking off a streak of three consecutive 20-point efforts.
“[My confidence] started with the American game,” said Beaudry. “Then I knew, ‘Wow, I am capable of doing this.’ After that game, I had a couple of games where I scored 20 points. It just clicked.”
Beaudry’s passing skills have blossomed as well, as she netted three assists in the Terriers’ win over Army on the first of March. One play after her game-tying jump shot, Beaudry created the go-ahead bucket for BU with one of her three assists.
Holding court on the right block, Beaudry witnessed freshman Nia Irving making a beeline to the rim on the weak side of the paint, whipping a dime of a pass in her direction. After absorbing contact, Irving finished the layup. One free throw later, the Terriers had a 63-60 lead that the Black Knights were unable to overcome.
“I have become more comfortable,” said Beaudry. “[Coach has said], ‘Do not just look to score, take a second, and look around.’ I [can] find [Irving] every time. We do it in practice every day, so it was easy.”
Beaudry and Irving have fostered a valuable connection on this side of the floor. With the two remaining with the program heading into the 2017-18 season, Terriers fans could be witnessing the evolution of a formidable frontcourt tandem.
“I would agree that [Beaudry and Irving are meshing],” said Steding. “We have a lot of amazing kids. Watching these kids grow right in front of our eyes is special.”
