Jan. 10, 2009

Box Score

BOSTON - Backed by a career-high 24 points from senior Jesyka Burks-Wiley and a strong overall defensive effort, the Boston University women's basketball team (8-6, 2-0 AE) cruised to a 58-47 victory over Vermont (7-8, 1-1 AE) on Saturday afternoon at Case Gym. The Terriers, winners of three straight, held the Catamounts to 25.7 percent from the field and recorded a season-high six blocks.

Burks-Wiley, the Terriers' America East Player of the Game, was 9-for-14 from the field to go along with five rebounds, one steal and one block, while senior Amarachi Umez-Eronini chipped in 10 points and junior Aly Hinton brought down a team-best 10 boards and earned two blocks. Sophomore Kerry Cashman came in off the bench and swatted three shots - matching a career best. Junior Courtnay Pilypaitis, UVM's AE Player of the Game, gave Vermont 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals.

As a team the Terriers held the Catamounts to their lowest scoring output of the season and recorded their second consecutive double-digit victory. Vermont, the league's best defense from the perimeter, held BU to five treys, however, the home squad adjusted and posted 24 in the paint.

BU jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, beginning the game on a 14-4 run and holding UVM scoreless through the first 4:23 of the game and without a field goal until the 16:06 mark. The Terriers stretched their lead to 15 - the largest of the contest - when sophomore Kat Briggs nailed a 3-pointer to move the score to 24-9. A layup by UVM's Kelli Poles at 6:32 jumpstarted an 8-0 run for the Catamounts and closed the gap to seven points, however, they would get no closer as Dini nailed a three to put the lead back up by ten, 27-17. At the break, BU enjoyed a 36-25 advantage, led by 14 points from Burks-Wiley and nine from Dini, who scored all her points from 3-point range.

In the second half, Vermont made a valiant comeback with a 6-0 stretch that made it a two-possession game, 44-38, with 10:20 remaining, but BU responded with its own 10-2 run that made it 54-40 with 3:43 to go. During that run, Vermont was held without a field goal for over four minutes as BU put the game out of reach. Pilypaitis hit a 3-pointer with one second left on the clock to round out the scoring at 58-47.

Next up for BU is Binghamton on Wednesday (Jan. 14) at Agganis Arena in the first of a doubleheader with the men’s team. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m.