Terriers Open Season at Siena on Saturday
November 9, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2007
BOSTON - The Boston University women's basketball team will open its 33rd season with a trip to Loudonville, N.Y., to face Siena at the Alumni Recreation Center on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 2:00 p.m. The Terriers and Saints will be meeting for the first time in 17 years.
THE TERRIERS: BU returns three starters and nine letter winners from 2006-07 and will be led by its tri-captains, seniors Kasey Devine and Cheri Raffo, along with junior Christine Kinneary. Raffo is the Terriers' leading returning scorer, averaging 9.3 points per game in 2006-07, while Kinneary is the team's returning assist leader from a year ago (92).
Sophomore Aly Hinton averaged 8.8 ppg and 6.3 rebounds per game last season and was a unanimous pick for the all-conference first team.
Junior Kristi Dini returns for her third season in the scarlet and white. She was the Terriers' 3-point specialist in 2006-07, shooting an impressive .381 (53-139) from behind the arc, good for third in the conference.
Adding depth to the Terriers' rotation will be juniors Jeskya Burks-Wiley and Amarachi Umez-Eronini.
SCOUTING THE SAINTS: The Saints return senior tri-captains Laura Menty, Melissa Manzer and Liga Alpe-Luka to their 2007-08 squad. Menty was a First Team All-MAAC honoree, while Manzer was a MAAC All-Tournament team member. Last year Manzer had her best season yet as a Saint, averaging 10.7 ppg and 3.3 assists per game.
In 2006-07, Siena rallied to reach the MAAC semifinals and finished with an 10-20 overall record and 8-10 mark in conference action. The Saints are an experienced squad with four starters returning for another round. In addition, head coach Gina Castelli welcomes four newcomers.
BU VS. SIENA: After a 17-year hiatus, the Terriers and Saints revive the rivalry on Saturday. BU leads the all-time series, 3-1. The two squads met three times in the mid- to late-80s (Jan. 12, 1985; Jan. 9, 1985; Jan. 9, 1989), all resulting in BU wins. The final meeting came on Jan. 20, 1990 when the Saints earned their only win in the series history. In that game, Siena led by just three points at the half before going on to win by a 10-point advantage, 69-59.
BU VS. THE MAAC: While the Terriers and Saints have not competed against each other in nearly two decades, the Terriers are familiar with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. BU owns a 14-7 advantage over MAAC opponents, and most recently has faced off with Canisius twice in as many years. The Terriers split with the Golden Griffins, with each team taking a win on the other's respective court. Canisius College (1-1) Fairfield (3-3) Iona (1-0) Loyola (0-0) Manhattan (1-0) Marist (3-1) Niagara (2-0) Rider (0-0) St. Peter's (0-2) Siena (3-1)
NEXT TIME OUT: Boston University will host its home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 13 when Rhode Island travels to Boston. The Terriers and Rams met in the 2006-07 season opener, and sophomore Kristen Folk had a memorable collegiate debut, recording the team's first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. BU went on to earn the 82-66 victory. Katie Meinhardt (15 points), Christine Kinneary (11 points) and Kristi Dini (14 points) also contributed on the offensive front, while Aly Hinton made a statement in her collegiate debut with 13 boards.
TERRIERS IN SEASON OPENERS: The Terriers are 13-19 all-time in season openers. On 12 occasions BU has opened on the road and is 3-9 in those contests. One of those wins came last season when the Terriers defeated Rhode Island, 82-66. Under head coach Kelly Greenberg, BU is 1-2.
