Terriers Welcome Crosstown Rival Boston College to the Roof Friday
November 11, 2010 | Women's Basketball
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BOSTON - The Boston University women's basketball team opens its 2010-11 campaign with crosstown rival Boston College on Friday (Nov. 12) at 5 p.m. at the Roof. The Terriers, who were picked to win the America East in a preseason coaches' poll, return all five starters from last year's squad and three all-conference honorees.
THE TERRIERS: BU will field a seasoned squad in 2010-11 as it returns all five starters from last year's team that finished 16-15 overall and third in the America East Conference with an 11-5 mark. America East Rookie of the Year Chantell Alford is the team's top returning scorer with 14.9 ppg in 2009-10, while America East All-Conference Third Team selections Alex Young (14.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and Mo Moran (12.4 ppg, 132 assists) round out BU's trio of guards. Additionally, head coach Kelly Greenberg returns junior Caroline Stewart, who was BU's top rebounder with 7.3 rpg, and senior Kerry Cashman - the Terriers' top shot blocker (36 blocks).
The Terriers will have 84.5 percent of its scoring back from a year ago, 82.5 percent of its perimeter shooting, and 80 percent of its rebounding.
BU VS. BC: Friday's contest is the 17th meeting between the Green Line rivals and the first since Jan. 3, 2010, when the Eagles defeated the Terriers, 69-61, at BC's Conte Forum. However, the Eagles will be making their first appearance at Case Gym since the 1992-93 season.
The series is currently tied, 8-8. Previous to last year's meeting, the two squads had met in the 2009 WNIT second round, when the Eagles ousted the Terriers with a 68-53 decision on March 23, 2009. After BU won seven of the first eight meetings, including the first five, the Eagles have been victorious in six of the last seven match-ups.
LAST TIME OUT VS. BOSTON COLLEGE (JAN. 3, 2010): Despite a game-high 20 points from then-freshman Chantell Alford, the women's basketball team dropped a 69-61 decision to Boston College on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, at Conte Forum in its 2009-10 non-conference finale. The Terriers held a 40-39 lead with just over 14 minutes left to play, but the Eagles pulled away and held off a late charge from the visitors.
Then-sophomore Alex Young and Aly Hinton ('10) added 14 and 13 points, respectively, for the Terriers and then-freshman Mo Moran and Young each handed out a game-best five assists. BC was paced by 17-point efforts from both Carolyn Swords and Mickel Picco. Swords picked up a double-double with a game-best 12 rebounds.
NEXT UP: Following Friday's game, BU will welcome Ivy League foe Yale to Case Gym on Wednesday (Nov. 17) at 7 p.m.
BU IN SEASON OPENERS: Under Greenberg, the Terriers are 3-3 in season openers and have won two of three since 2006-07, while the program is 15-20 in season-opening contests in 35 years as a varsity program.
PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS: This year, BU has been chosen as the unanimous preseason favorite to win the 2011 America East Women's Basketball Championship, following a vote of the league's head coaches. BU returns all five starters from last season's squad with the catalyst to this success coming in the form of an impressive freshman class. Chantell Alford led the team in points, rebounds and steals, while Mo Moran ran the point as a rookie with 4.3 assists per game. Guard Alex Young, another third-team pick, came into her own as a sophomore and became the Terriers' go-to perimeter shooter. Additionally, Alford, Moran and Young were selected to the AE Preseason All-Conference Team.
CASE CLOSED: The confines of Case Gym have proven to be a formidable home-court advantage for the Terriers throughout the last four seasons as they have won 33-of-42 contests and are 23-3 against non-conference opponents in the last three seasons at Case Gymnasium. While the Terriers' 20-game winning streak at home vs. the AE came to an end vs. Hartford on Jan. 21, 2010, they have won an impressive 84.4 percent (27-of-32) of their home games against the conference since the 2006-07 season.
In 2007-08, BU was 11-0 overall and 8-0 in America East action, and the Terriers' only home loss came at Agganis Arena on Nov. 17, 2007 to then-No. 16 Ohio State. It marked the first time in program history the Terriers went undefeated at Case. Last year, BU went 12-1 at home with its lone home loss coming to St. John's on Dec. 30, 2008.
Six times, BU has lost just one home contest (2008-09, 2007-08, 1994-95, 1986-87, 1979-80, 1977-78).
