Nov. 22, 2011

Box Score | View Highlights | Alford Postgame Interview

BOSTON - The Boston University women's basketball team hit 15 three-pointers and never trailed after the 3:07 mark of the first half as the Terriers defeated crosstown rival Northeastern, 75-65, on Tuesday night at Case Gym.

Chantell Alford, the America East Player of the Game, led the Terriers with 21 points, as the junior guard went 5-of-10 from beyond the arc to spark the offense. Senior guard Alex Young had 20 points, while junior guard Mo Moran nearly had a double-double with 11 points and eight boards. Senior forward Caroline Stewart and sophomore forward Rashidat Agboola were both strong on the glass for BU, as they each pulled down seven rebounds to lead the Terriers.

BU is now 2-0 at Case Gym this season and the Terriers move to 2-2 with the win. Northeastern is now 0-4 after the loss.

The Huskies came out of the gate quickly and took a 7-3 lead, but Moran and Alford combined for the next nine points of the contest, as Moran hit a pair of three pointers and Alford collected one of her own.

BU eventually built a 17-12 advantage, and that's when the aerial assault came into full force. The Terriers' next seven baskets were all three-pointers as they extended their lead, 38-23. Northeastern hit seven three-pointers of its own in the opening session, however, and at the end of the first half BU led by 10, 43-33.

The Terriers were buoyed by their fantastic three-point shooting in the first half, as BU knocked down 11-of-19 shots from beyond the arc. Alford was 4-of-6 from downtown, while Young was 3-of-6 and Moran was 2-of-3. Young and Alford led all scorers in the opening stanza with 15 and 14 points, respectively.

In the second half, BU continued its strong shooting as the Terriers extended the lead to 14 after a Young layup. The Huskies were able to keep even with BU after that make, as the Terriers and Huskies traded baskets through the early portion of the stanza.

BU finally appeared to take control for good when junior forward Jacqueline Kuczynski hit a three-pointer and followed that up with a jumper to give BU a 62-46 lead with 10:30 remaining in regulation; the 16 point lead was the Terriers' largest of the evening. The Huskies began to climb back into the game, eventually cutting the deficit to nine, 66-57, with 5:00 left in the second half.

Young hit a huge three-pointer to make it 69-57 with 3:45 to go in the half. Northeastern continued to shoot well down the stretch, however, and after a Deanna Kerkhof trey, the Terriers' lead was cut to 71-65 with 1:16 to play.

Kerkhof's basket was the last of the night for the Huskies though, as the Terriers' defense forced three misses from Northeastern. BU went 4-of-4 from the charity stripe to ice the game.

The Terriers will return to Case Gym on Saturday when they host the Rhode Island Rams. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on NESN.