When it comes to her team’s leaders, BU women’s basketball coach Kelly Greenberg is honest and straightforward.
“Our toughest two players are [junior forward] Caroline Stewart and [senior center] Kerry Cashman, every day at practice and at every game,” Greenberg said.
So when you take a look at the St. John’s University and Northeastern University box scores, it should come as no surprise that the team lost both games.
On Saturday, Stewart and Cashman were both held scoreless as St. John’s routed BU (2-7) 66-42. The two shot the ball a combined six times. To Greenberg, though, it was all a part of St. John’s plan.
“You’re not going to win the game when these two kids don’t touch it, and I think that was St. John’s game plan,” Greenberg said. “I thought they did a good job today taking them out. They wouldn’t let them get good looks, and they were physical with them.”
Stewart and Cashman, two of the team’s three captains, even struggled on the boards, a stat they often dominate. Cashman pulled down just four boards before fouling out with 3:47 to play. Stewart (seven rebounds) was also in foul trouble for a majority of the game and played just 24 minutes.
“Unfortunately, they have to pick up a lot of fouls because they have to help people, help people out of position,” Greenberg said. “They just have to do so much for us right now. I’m sure they are very exhausted young women.”
As St. John’s defensive effort allowed the Red Storm to run away with the game, a visibly frustrated Stewart took a quick glance at the scoreboard—which then read 27-12 in favor of St. John’s—with 6:23 left in the first half, punching one palm with her other fist.
Unfortunately for Stewart and the Terriers, the rest of the game would only yield more of the same, and their opponent would only expand its lead as the clock wound down as Stewart and Cashman tried fruitlessly to turn things around.
On Monday night, NU did not shut Stewart and Cashman down quite like St. John’s did, but the Huskies were effective enough to get the 67-55 win. This time, the duo was able to stay out of foul trouble for the most part, but a low shooting percentage did BU in. Cashman was just 1-of-7 and Stewart was 3-of-8 from the field.
“We weren’t sharp,” Greenberg said. “It’s unfortunate, because our game plan was to get the ball inside a little bit [to Stewart and Cashman]. We really missed, and we missed badly. I thought that that really changed the game for us. Kerry got frustrated, and her body language changed, and it gives the other team a confidence boost.”
As disappointing as the 2-7 season has been for the Terriers thus far, Stewart and Cashman have been the source of several bright spots. Against Northeastern, Stewart had 11 rebounds, allowing her to pass the 350 mark for her career, while Cashman hauled in 12 boards to up her total to 305.
“They both rebounded the heck out of the ball,” Greenberg said of the NU game in particular. “Anytime there’s a personal milestone, I’m happy.”
On the season, Cashman and Stewart are averaging 8.7 and 8.1 boards per game respectively and both are averaging 7.7 points per game.
If the Terriers are going to turn their season around during the rapidly approaching conference play, which BU is expected to do well in as it was the preseason favorite to win the conference, Stewart and Cashman will likely be a central part of it as they continue to be the team’s physical, mental and statistical leaders.
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