Nov. 18, 2009

Box Score

BOSTON - A balanced scoring attack and stellar defensive effort helped the Boston University women's basketball team to a 47-35 win over Rhode Island on Wednesday night in the home opener at Case Gym. Junior Kat Briggs, sophomore Caroline Stewart and freshman Caitlynn Moran each scored eight points for the Terriers, who improved to 1-2 on the young season, while the Rams fell to 0-2.

BU allowed fewer than 40 points in a game for the first time since Feb. 27, 2008, when the Terriers beat UNH, 66-39. BU forced 32 turnovers as Moran, the America East Player of the Game, and senior Maggie McKemie each tallied three steals. Stewart pulled down seven rebounds in the wire-to-wire victory.

Lara Gaspar posted a double-double for the Rams with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Megan Shoniker scored a game-high 13 points and Caitlin Kearns grabbed 13 boards for URI.

The Terriers jumped out to a huge lead and never looked back, leading 27-9 at halftime as Rhode Island shot 4-for-23 (17.4 percent) from the field in the opening half. BU's defense held URI without a field goal for the first six minutes of the contest as junior Kerry Cashman recorded a block and the team pulled down five defensive boards.

Following the six-minute scoreless drought, URI was unable to recover as the Terriers allowed the advantage to dip into single-digits only one more time. After URI's, Lara Gaspar went in for a lay-up at 10:20 to cut the deficit to nine points, 13-4, BU went on a 14-5 tear to finish out the half with a 27-9 advantage.

In the second stanza, BU extended its lead to an impressive 25 points at 8:25 when Briggs hit both of her free throws, and the deficit was too much for the Rams as they were only able to cut the lead to 12 points, backed by an 18-5 run to end the game.

BU will return to action on Saturday (Nov. 21) when it travels to St. John's for a 2 p.m. contest.