Case Gymnasium appeared normal upon first glance prior to the Boston University women’s basketball team’s game against the University of New Hampshire Sunday afternoon.
The BU pep band blared “Shipping Up to Boston,” while the visiting Wildcats went through pregame layup-lines in sedated fashion. Nothing seemed out of place.
But a quick look to the opposite end of the gym revealed a completely different picture.
The Terriers clapped to the beat of the band’s stadium anthems, while alternating trips to the free-throw line. Smiles and laughs were plentiful. At the end of warm-ups, all 13 Terriers in uniform embraced in a circle and chanted together, swaying as one.
Aided by a pregame ceremony honoring senior forwards Aly Hinton and Maggie McKemie, and a rousing rendition of the national anthem by sophomore forward Caroline Stewart, the Terriers’ energy continued to build right up until tip-off.
The Terriers then converted all of that newfound energy into a 79-65 win over the Wildcats, in a game they led for 37 out of 40 minutes.
What could have been the explanation for this newfound energy?
It’s simple. After blowing a 23-point lead against the University of Maryland-Baltimore County Feb. 24, the team needed to ensure that such a thing wouldn’t happen again.
“We were really down after our devastating loss to UMBC, so we talked with the captains [about how] we have great ingredients on our team,” said BU coach Kelly Greenberg. “We talked a lot about how every single possession, whether you’re playing zero minutes or 40 minutes, that every player has to be into it. I think our girls did a really nice job before the game even started at just firing each other up.”
With the No. 3 seed in the upcoming America East Tournament securebefore tip-off, Sunday was not a must-win game, but Greenberg and the rest of the Terriers refused to play idly.
“You can come out in a game like this and just be like “Well, we know we’re playing UMBC at 2:30 on Friday [in the conference tournament],’ and just walk through it,” Greenberg said.
Greenberg’s comments on her team’s attitude may have been overwhelmingly positive, but Senior Day, and all of the nostalgia that comes with it, certainly provided the Terriers with an extra boost.
Hinton and McKemie were honored in an pregame ceremony that had them walking arm-in-arm with family members through a lane of smiling teammates to receive commemorative posters, in addition to a scarlet and white bouquet of flowers.
Despite the end result, Hinton said her last game at Case left her feeling differently.
“We have a banquet later, and it’s a fun day for everyone, but it’s definitely sad,” she said.
Meanwhile, McKemie said she hopes the Terriers can carry their new energy into the conference tournament beginning on Friday.
“Playing at home right before the conference tournament I think is really good for us because the fans and the crowd get so into it.” McKemie said. “Case is a really magical place for us.”
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