Boston University
13-9, 10-0
Maine
3-19, 1-9
Women's Basketball Hands Maine 71-59 Loss
February 1, 2011 | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine - Backed by a 28-point performance from sophomore Chantell Alford, the Boston University women's basketball team (13-9, 10-0 AE) swept the season series with Maine (6-15, 3-6 AE) with a 71-59 victory on Tuesday evening at the Black Bears' Alfond Arena.
With 5:48 remaining, Maine came storming back to make it a three-point game, 54-51, however, BU's solid 3-point shooting distanced it from the surging home side. Alford nailed a three and junior Alex Young hit two more long-range shots down the stretch to put BU back up by 10, 67-57, and secure the win.
BU finished the game with a season-high 12 treys. It hit eight in the first half alone as the Black Bears came out in a zone defense and even after they adjusted at halftime, the Terriers hit four more in the second stanza.
Alford, the America East Player of the Game, reached 20+ points for the fifth time this season as she shot 9-for-17 from the field, including 5-for-10 from behind the arc, to match a career-high 28 points. She also added four steals, four assists and one block. Junior Alex Young poured in 22 points, with 18 coming from long range. Her six 3-pointers set a career high and was just one shy of a single-game school record. Senior Kerry Cashman hauled in 13 boards, while sophomore Mo Moran had a strong game at the point with nine points, eight assists, and four steals.
The Terriers jumped out to a commanding 15-2 advantage with nine straight points coming from Young and all were from behind the arc. BU's 3-point shooting was on fire in the first half as it hit five straight treys to extend the lead to 15 points, 21-6, heading into the second media timeout. The Terriers pushed it even further as they went 8-for-14 through the first 11 minutes to own an impressive 32-6 at 9:34. The Black Bears went scoreless for a five-minute period before Amber Smith hit the team's first 3-pointer of the game.
At the break, BU was up by 17 points, 40-23, as Young and Alford combined to score 29 points.
In the second half, Maine climbed back into the game as Ashleigh Roberts scored seven straight points to cut the deficit to 11, 46-35. The Black Bears continued to chip away at BU's lead and drew to within three, 50-47, on the strength of a 17-4 run.
After Maine got as close as three points again, 54-51, Alford came back down the court and pulled up a three. The trey turned the tide for the Terriers as they pushed it back to nine points on a 3-pointer from Young. Two minutes later, Young put the Terriers' lead back into double digits with her career-high sixth 3-pointer of the game.
BU rounded out the scoring at 71-59 after hitting 4-of-6 free throws down the stretch.
The Terriers will have a week off before welcoming Albany to Case Gym on Wednesday (Feb. 9) at 7 p.m.
