Nov. 8, 2012

Watch | Listen | GameTracker | @BUGameDay (Twitter Updates) | Game Notes

Season Preview | 2012-13 Women's Basketball Virtual Guide

Parking Advisory

BOSTON - The Boston University women's basketball team begins its 38th season of competition on Friday (Nov. 9) when BU hosts cross-town rival Boston College at Case Gym. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

There will be a Pregame Fan Fest starting at 6 p.m. outside of Case Gym with free pizza courtesy of Dominio's Pizza, giveaways and more. The first 500 fans will receive a Beat BC t-shirt. In addition, one lucky fan will have the chance to win free books for next semester courtesy of Barnes and Noble (rules and regulations apply).

Fans are reminded that the Babcock Street Parking lot is closed due to the construction of New Balance Field. For the women's basketball home opener, fans are encouraged to park at the lot located at 808 Commonwealth Avenue, due to an event at Agganis Arena. Fans should identify themselves to the parking attendant as women's basketball spectators and will be charged a $5 flat rate.

Friday's game marks the 19th meeting between the two Comm Ave rivals with the series even at 9-9. Last season, the Terriers recorded their first win against the Eagles since 1990, when BU defeated BC, 70-62, Dec. 13, 2011 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

This is the second time in the past three seasons that BU and BC have faced each other in the season opener. The Terriers hosted the Eagles to kick off the 2010-11 campaign and lost, 84-65. Overall, BU is 16-21 in their first game of the season and 4-4 in season openers under head coach Kelly Greenberg. The Terriers own a 12-11 all-time record when opening their season on their home court.

BU welcomes back 10 letterwinners, including three starters from last year's team that went 23-9 (15-1 America East) and advanced to the first round of the WNIT after claiming the America East regular season title. The Terriers' return 70 percent (41.7 points per game) of their scoring offense from a year ago, including their top three scorers.

Senior guard Chantell Alford returns as the team's leading scorer after posting 12.4 ppg last season en route to her second consecutive America East Player of the Year honor. Classmate Mo Moran ranked second on the team with 10.9 ppg while junior Rashidat Agboola was third with 10.1 ppg. Agboola also ranked second in the conference with 8.8 rebounds per game.

Head coach Kelly Greenberg enters her ninth season leading the Terriers and owns a 149-101 (.598) record at BU. She has guided the Terriers to three postseason appearances in the past four years and led BU to at least 15 wins in each of the past eight seasons.

Boston College enters the 2012-13 season following a 7-23 campaign last year, including a 2-14 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with seven letterwinners returning from last year's squad. BC's top two leading scorers from a year ago are back in junior Katie Zenevitch (10.5 ppg) and classmate Kristen Doherty (9.9 ppg). Zenevitch is also returns as the team's leading rebounder with 6.1 rpg.

Head coach Erik Johnson returns for his second stint on the BC sideline after serving as an assistant coach from 2006 to 2008 for the Eagles. Johnson spent the last four years as the head coach at Denver where he posted a 72-52 overall record.

BU will remain at home for its next two games, marking the first time in Greenberg's tenure that the Terriers have started the season with a three-game home stand. Next up for BU is a visit from West Virginia on Monday (Nov. 12), with tip-off slated for 7 p.m. It marks the first time in program history that BU will host a school from the Big 12 Conference.

Following Monday's game, BU will host Richmond on Friday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m.