Box Score

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Despite three players reaching double figures, the Boston University women's basketball team (13-11, 10-2 AE) fell to Hartford (11-14, 8-4 AE), 66-59, on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore Chantell Alford poured in 19 points, while senior Kerry Cashman recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds and sophomore Mo Moran added 15.

The Terriers were as close as two points, 58-56, with just over four minutes remaining, however, the Hawks' free-throw shooting helped propel them to victory. Hartford got to the line 36 times and converted on 26 free throws, while also outrebounding BU, 45-26. The Terriers shot .411 from the field and .238 from behind the arc. They went 8-for-15 from the charity stripe.

Cashman recorded her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds to earn America East Player of the Game honors. She was crucial in the final moments of the game, scoring eight points in the final seven minutes to keep BU within striking distance of the Hawks.

Alford reached double figures for the 16th straight game and surpassed 800 career points as just a sophomore with a 19-point effort on Sunday afternoon. She shot 7-for-14 with three treys to go along with two assists and three steals. Moran was 6-for-14 with five assists and two steals.

Out of the gates both teams struggled from the field and heading into the first media timeout at 15:51, the score was tied 2-2 with Cashman recording the lone field goal. However, over the next four minutes the Hawks would outscore BU 10-3 to take a 12-5 lead at 11:37 and force the Terriers to burn a 30-second timeout. BU did not stay down for long though as Moran nailed a three and junior Caroline Stewart pulled up for a jumper to quickly reduce the deficit to two, 12-10 at 10:26.

Hartford would score the next seven straight points before freshman Rashidat Agboola came in off the bench to break a three-minute scoring drought and bring the game to 19-12. After a steal at halfcourt, Alford drove to the basket, hit the layup and drew the foul to convert on a three-point play at 5:21, making it a one-possession game, 20-17. Despite being quiet for much of the half, Alford once again hit an important 3-pointer at 3:52 to move the score to 21-20.

Hartford's Mary Silvia hit back-to-back threes and the Hawks went 4-for-4 down the stretch, while Moran and Alford responded with jumpers of their own. Going into the locker rooms at halftime, the Terriers trailed by just four points, 31-27. Moran was vital in keeping BU within striking distance as she poured in 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting.

In the second half, Alford started off with the hot hand with back-to-back treys that not only tied the score at 35-35, but also propelled her past 800 career points in just two seasons as a Terrier. Over the next two minutes, Hartford embarked on a 10-2 run that left BU in a 48-39 deficit. However, Moran and Alford continued to provide the offensive power for the Terriers as the duo hit two more baskets to move the score to 50-44 at 10:50.

Cashman kept the Terriers in the game down the stretch scoring four buckets in three minutes as BU trailed by just two points, 58-56, at 4:09. After the Hawks stretched it back to seven points, 63-56, senior Kat Briggs nailed a crucial 3-pointer at 1:02 to make it a four-point game, 63-59. With under a minute to go, BU began to foul hoping to catch a defensive rebound, but Hartford's Mary Silvia hit two free throw attempts to round out the scoring at 66-59.

BU will return to the hardwood on Thursday (Feb. 17) at UMBC at 7 p.m.