2002-03 Women's Basketball Outlook: The Time Is Now
November 10, 2002 | Women's Basketball
With all five starters and nine players returning from the most successful season in seven years, and a talented recruiting class joining the mix, the Terriers are geared up for a championship run.
A winning attitude. That’s the one major difference between the start of the 2002-03 season and the previous seven seasons for the Boston University women’s basketball program.
For the first time since 1995, the Terriers enter the season with a confidence that only comes from success. With all five starters and nine of 14 players returning from the 2001-02 squad that finished with a 17-11 overall record and a second-place finish in the conference standings, there is no reason these Terriers shouldn’t be confident, or complacent.
That’s why head coach Margaret McKeonand her coaching staff are planning for what hopefully will be the most successful season ever at Boston University. Their goals are simple: win the America East Conference Championship and go where they have never gone in the 27-year history of the program - the NCAA Tournament.
Last season, the Terriers were picked in the America East Pre-Season Coaches’ Poll to finish fifth but earned a second-seed in the conference tournament with a 10-6 record in league play. The Terriers bowed out early, falling to seventh-seed Stony Brook, 63-48, in the America East quarterfinals. Avenging the upset is one of many motivating factors this squad will have to dominate during the conference schedule.
Among the returners from the 2001-02 squad is First Team All-Conference selection Katie Terhune, who led the league in scoring and is on her way to becoming the greatest career scorer at Boston University.
In addition to the key returners, the Terriers welcome four newcomers to ensure depth as well as make an immediate impact. With the talent and experience the Terriers bring to the table for the 2002-03 season, McKeon sees no reason why the team goal of reaching the NCAA Tournament is unattainable.
“I expect the experience of what our team has been through in the past to prepare us to become winners, game in and game out,” said McKeon. “We’re expected to win. Teams are now gearing up for Boston University. Two years ago, we were a doormat. Now we step on the floor on gameday, either at home or at away games, and teams know it will be a tough game.”
Foreseeable speed bumps to their success would be replacing the experience of graduated senior guards Annie Tomasini and Dia Dufault and center Anne Nelson.
In addition, the Terriers will be facing their most challenging non-conference schedule since McKeon took the reins of the program with match-ups against perennial national powerhouses Vanderbilt, Stanford, and Saint Joseph’s.
“We have the chance to see where we stand among the best in college basketball,” said McKeon. “Then, when we get to conference play, we should be expecting to win every game.”
According to McKeon, all the pieces are in place to make a run for a championship.
BACKCOURT PREVIEW
After only two seasons, Katie Terhune has established herself as one of the greatest offensive threats in Boston University women’s basketball history. Last season, the junior shooting guard led the league and was ranked 34th in the nation in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game.
“Because we have such a deep backcourt this season with veterans who know Katie’s game and rookie guards who can penetrate and create space, she’ll have more open looks than ever before,” said McKeon. “I think her junior year will be one she’ll always remember.”
Terhune will look to continue to pace the Terriers’ attack, whether it be spotting up for a three-pointer or driving the lane looking to draw a foul. Last season, Terhune was second on the team in both three-pointers made and three-point accuracy. From the free throw line, Terhune hit a program single-season record 141 free thows.
In addition to her talent, Terhune’s greatest attribute may be her toughness. Last season, in a pivotal conference game against New Hampshire, Terhune played 22 minutes despite suffering from a stomach virus. Terhune scored a game-high 18 points, including seven in the overtime period, leading the Terriers to a much-needed 68-64 win over the Wildcats.
Joining Terhune in the backcourt will be a combination of proven returners and talented freshmen.
Senior guard Alison Argentieri started at the point in 27 games for B.U. last season and led the team and ranked second in the America East with 90 assists. Already a proven ballhandler and distributor, Argentieri improved upon her offensive game last season as well, averaging a career-high 8.0 points per game while connecting on a team-high 44 three-pointers. In a 93-77 win over cross-town rival Harvard in November, Argentieri broke out with a career-high 25 points, hitting 6-of-7 from long range.
Junior guard Courtney Jones served as a back-up guard last season after starting more than half of her freshman season at the point. Much like Argentieri, Jones’ attributes are her consistency as a floor general and her ability to shoot from three-point range.
Terhune, Argentieri, and Jones return as the most lethal long-range shooting trio in the league. As a team, the Terriers led the America East with a .365 three-point shooting percentage and the trio made 105 of the team’s 134 total three-pointers.
Last season, McKeon utilized the speed of the guards in both full- and half-court presses, forcing 641 turnovers. On the season, B.U. led the league in turnover ratio and was second in steals.
McKeon will look to junior guard Lashuanda Mitchell to serve as a threat on the defensive end as well as a spark on the fast break transition.
As in years past, McKeon is planning to give her two freshmen guards ample opportunity to make an impact on the lineup. Katie Meinhardt, a 5-9 guard from St. Ignatious Prep in San Francisco, and Rachael Vanderwal, a 5-9 import from Bishop Ryan Catholic in Stoney Creek, Ontario, will offer a number of options in the backcourt.
“Meinardt is a talented player,” said McKeon. “She can pass, see the floor, score, and she gets to the basket with penetration. Vanderwal can play either guard position. She’s a great defender. Offensively, she can shoot the threes and she can penetrate. They both have great court vision and can get to the basket.”
Look for Meinhert and Vanderwal to dribble-drive and create open looks on the perimeter for Terhune.
FRONTCOURT PREVIEW Despite having such an accredited core in the backcourt, the Terriers’ strength may be in their frontcourt. With defenses focusing on the B.U. guard play, specifically on the outside shooting and driving by Terhune and the speedy newcomers, the interior will benefit from receiving less focus.
A talented freshmen duo last season, sophomore forwards Adrienne Norris and Larissa Parr will return to the Terriers’ frontcourt not only with talent but also a year of experience.
Norris blossomed early last season, grabbing a season-high 13 rebounds in the season-opener against South Florida. By mid-season, the All-Rookie Team selection was a regular in the starting lineup, putting up an 18-point, 11-rebound effort against Hartford and a 17-point, 12-rebound game against Maine.
Parr got into her groove in the second half of the season and became the Terriers’ most consistent scorer. Finishing the season with the team’s highest field goal percentage, Parr gained confidence as the season progressed, hitting baby hooks and jumpers from the elbow, and will look to use her game experience in 2002-03.
“Larissa and Adrienne proved how versatile they can be last season,” said McKeon. “They can handle the ball, get to the basket, and shoot threes. The two also brought a winning attitude to our team as freshmen.”
The interior defense was led last season by Marisa Moseley. Entering her junior season, Moseley ranks eighth on the Terriers’ all-time blocks list and is often relied upon to defend an opponent’s top inside threat.
“She has a great attitude about the game and likes to compete,” said McKeon. “We need that from her during games - to be the spirit of the team on the floor.”
Moseley’s take-no-prisoners attitude on the defense and leadership on game day will be major assets as the Terriers look to go further into the playoffs than ever before.
Junior Amparo Lopez, a 6-5 center with “unlimited potential” according to McKeon, missed last season after undergoing back surgery in November.
“Amparo has great low-post moves, vision, and can handle and pass the ball,” said McKeon of the highly recruited center.
Rounding out the returners is senior Rachel Werner, who brings three years of experience in the B.U. system and has a nice shooting touch for a post player.
Joining the five veterans is 6-2 freshman center Shannon Petranoff, from Cranston, R.I., who, according to McKeon, could make a big splash in the America East.
“Shannon’s got raw talent,” said McKeon. “She could be a diamond in the rough. She is willing to learn and is a student of the game. I think she is going to be a big surprise in our league.”
After spending the last two seasons at Stanford University, the Terriers welcome transfer Becky Bonner, a 6-2 forward from Concord, N.H. Bonner will sit out the upcoming season due to NCAA transfer rules, and will have two years of eligibility remaining for the Terriers starting with the 2003-04 season.
With more depth at the guard and forward positions than ever before, McKeon believes this should be the season B.U. competes for more than just respect. The pieces are finally in place to make a run for a championship and possibly reach for the unknown—the NCAA tournament.
