With Christmas break fast approaching, the Boston University women’s basketball team travels to Yale University in search of a much-needed win, looking to even its record Wednesday in New Haven, Conn.
Last time out, the Terriers (3-4) let an early second-half lead slip away against Harvard University. Down by 10 with 15 minutes to go, the Crimson used a red hot 3-point shooting display to overmatch the Terrier defense, winning 85-68. BU will look to put the second half collapse behind them against Yale (3-3).
The young squad appeared overmatched by Harvard’s big players at times and allowed too many open looks from behind the arc. In particular, freshman guard Mo Moran struggled because of Harvard’s physical play.
‘She got down on herself,’ BU coach Kelly Greenberg said. ‘We just want her to know that it’s okay that she got frustrated. She came back in practice and was very resilient.’
BU’s leading scorer for much of the year, Moran put up a season-low eight points and committed six turnovers. She will look to rediscover her scoring touch versus a Yale defense that has allowed 65.3 points per game.
Yale brings a well rounded offense to the table, with five scorers averaging between 7.5 and 11.2 points per game. Senior swingman Melissa Colborne (11.2) leads the well-balanced offense.
‘It’s good that they [spread the scoring so much],’ Greenberg said. ‘I never like to focus on one player. That way, we can just play good 1-on-1 defense.’
The two teams are largely unfamiliar with each other, not having played since late 2005. Last time out, BU edged Yale, 53-41, in the consolation game of the Marriott Cavalier Classic. Strong defensive pressure held Bulldog players to 27.3 percent from the field. A repeat performance would do wonders for the defense. BU is 9-1 all-time versus Yale.
Freshman guard Chantell Alford capped a successful week when she was named the America East Rookie of the Week for the stretch ending Dec. 6. Alford is the second straight Boston University player to gain the honor, following Moran’s award the previous week.
Greenberg praised the great poise and all-around play of her freshmen.
‘All of them don’t have to score to make a difference in the game,’ Greenberg said.
Nevertheless, they do score. Moran and Alford enter the week as the two highest scoring freshmen in the conference. Another rookie, guard Kristen Sims, has also looked good in her two games with the team, including a team-high 17 points against the University of Kentucky in the season opener. Sims’ foot injury has forced her to miss the last five games.
The Bulldogs enter the game fresh off a 54-50 win over Bucknell University, where they forced 31 turnovers. BU, turnover prone itself, must do a good job of holding onto the ball if it is to ensure victory.
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