The Boston University women’s basketball team traveled to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania for its penultimate game of the season with Bucknell University Saturday, but fell in a game of runs, 55-53.
It was a game that Terriers (16-12, 11-6 Patriot League) wishes they could have back, as missed free throws kept the Bison (22-6, 15-2 Patriot League) in front. In the last four minutes of the game, the Terriers shot 3-of-6 from the line.
BU head coach Marisa Moseley was frustrated by the simple mistakes down the stretch, especially since the energy and opportunities were there.
“We left everything on the court,” Moseley said. “We missed some free throws there, and I think we had a couple chances at the end to tie it up, but when you miss five free throws and it’s a two-point game, you kind of kick yourself a little bit.”
With 25 seconds remaining, the Terriers had a chance to at least tie the game on the final possession. Sophomore forward Riley Childs’ missed jumper fell into the hands of freshman guard Maggie Pina.
After running out the clock to just one second to take the shot, Bucknell junior guard Abby Kapp was able to get a hand on the ball, allowing the Bison to prevail.
Despite the final score being a two-point difference, the game was not so close in its early stages.
At the end of the first quarter, BU found itself down 23-13 to the Bison, but the Terriers came back in the second quarter with defensive intensity, only allowing two points in the entire quarter.
Moseley praised the team’s defensive efforts.
“I thought our defense was really good in that quarter,” Moseley said. “For us to have gone down in that first quarter 10 [points], and then to be able to come back and really lock in defensively, I thought was really good.”
Pina and junior guard Katie Nelson continued to provide offense for BU, combining for 27 of the Terriers’ 53 points.
Bucknell senior forward Ellie Mack earned a double-double against BU with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Moseley said BU must clean up its inconsistent play and also find a way to finish out close games.
“At this point, when it’s your third time playing everybody in the league, people know each other, know what they can do, what they can’t do, and we’ve got to be able to make those adjustments,” Moseley said. “I think the biggest thing is consistency and being able to execute at the right time.”
Wednesday at 6 p.m., the Terriers will host the U.S. Military Academy (8-20, 4-13 Patriot League) in their final regular season game. With BU currently tied with Colgate University and Lafayette College for the second seed in the Patriot League, Moseley is focused on the last game, urging the team to just take it one step at a time.
“We just want to make sure that we can take care of home court on Wednesday, finish out with the ‘W,’” Moseley said, “and then see what the next games hold.”
