March 4, 2011
Box Score
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The second-seeded Boston University women's basketball team (16-13) jumped out to a commanding 32-6 halftime lead and never looked back as it went on to earn a 62-38 victory over seventh-seeded Vermont (5-25) in the America East quarterfinals on Friday afternoon. Sophomore Chantell Alford recorded a double-double with 24 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
Alford proved why she was voted this year's America East Player of the Year as she shot 7-for-11 from the field, 3-for-7 from behind the arc, and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line to record 20+ points for the seventh time in 2010-11. All-Rookie selection Rashidat Agboola had a career game with nine points, 11 boards, and two blocks, while forwards Caroline Stewart and Kerry Cashman had matching statistical lines, each with eight points and eight rebounds.
BU's defense was at its best during the contest as it held an opponent to its lowest scoring output of the season. UVM shot just .204 from the field and in the first half was 1-for-27. Its .037 first-half field goal shooting was an America East tournament record for lowest percentage. The Terriers also recorded five blocks and nine steals.
The Terriers outrebounded Vermont 50-42 and was twice as aggressive in the paint as the Catamounts, outscoring them 28-14 from inside. BU also forced UVM into 17 turnovers, scoring 18 points off those miscues. The Terriers also got a big helping from their bench as it contributed 15 points.
BU got off to a strong start as it outscored UVM, 9-2, in the first four minutes. BU played aggressively, driving to the basket and drawing fouls early on as six of its first 13 points came from the charity stripe. Meanwhile on the opposite end of the court, its defense clamped down on UVM, holding it to a mere four points through the first 18 minutes of action to take a commanding 23-4 advantage.
At the half, BU owned a 32-6 advantage, holding UVM to a .037 shooting percentage on 1-for-27 shooting.
In the second half, the Terriers upheld their 20+-point advantage as Alford turned on the scoring and was equally as efficient on the boards, hauling in a career best of 13. Vermont did make a marked turnaround from the field as it scored eight times as much as it did in the first half. With 3:11 showing on the clock however, the Terriers led 56-34, with Alford reaching 20+ points to increase her season average to 15.3 ppg.
BU advances to the America East semifinals on Sunday (March 6) at 11 a.m. where it will take on third-seeded Binghamton.
