Rachael Vanderwal got a surprise start last night.
It will be the last time her starting comes as a surprise.
The freshman point guard ran the team with intensity and efficiency, helping the Boston University women’s basketball team to an exhibition victory over the Istrobanka Lokomotiva, 72-60, at Case Gymnasium Monday night.
‘She’s been outplaying everyone at practice,’ said BU Coach Margaret McKeon. ‘I want to play the best players. Every day, she’s been playing the way she did tonight, and she looks like she’s a veteran.’
‘I was surprised, but I was actually playing a lot in practice, so I was ready,’ Vanderwal said.
She fit in with the team from the time the ball was tipped to start the game. Off the tip, she passed to sophomore Adrienne Norris, who was cutting to the hoop, for an easy basket. It gave the Terriers an early lead and Vanderwal her first collegiate assist.
A steal by Vanderwal a minute later that she converted into a lay-up helped prove that she is plenty capable of running an up-tempo style offense.
After picking up two fouls within a minute, Vanderwal found herself back on the bench with 13 minutes to play in the first half.
Vanderwal attributed the quick fouls to a freshman mistake, which she hopes to cut down on as the season progresses. BU’s lead narrowed with Vanderwal on the bench, forcing McKeon to put her back in the game during the first half with two fouls. She picked up her third foul right after returning to action with six minutes to play, and sat on the bench the rest of the half with three fouls.
‘Just some learning mistakes,’ she said. ‘One of the fouls was one of the new rules, where you can’t hand check as much. I think I’ll be able to cut down on those.’
McKeon wasn’t discouraged with the foul trouble either, instead looking positively at the energy she provided the team when she was playing.
‘At halftime, I said out of anyone, Rachael Vanderwal looks like she’s been in this program for four years,’ McKeon said.
Her energetic play continued as she came off the bench in the second half. She finished the night with just four points, but with a spotless five assists and no turnovers.
‘We only had 12 turnovers [as a team],’ commented McKeon. ‘Since I’ve been here, we’ve been averaging 25 turnovers a game.’
McKeon was happy with the 80 shots her team put up, which can be attributed to the point guard creating more shots for her team. McKeon often went with a lineup that included two point guards last night, playing senior guard Alison Argentieri and junior guard Courtney Jones with Vanderwal.
Vanderwal noticed the difference the strategy had on the team’s play, as well as the help it gave her in running the team.
‘It’s a different game, communication-wise with another guard in there,’ Vanderwal said. ‘There is a lot of talking. Plus we were able to push the ball up the court a lot more.
‘It’s exciting, I think our team has a lot of potential, and I’m really excited about the season,’ Vanderwal said.
Last night was an example of that potential from the point guard position.