Women's Basketball Hosts Hartford Saturday on NESN
February 1, 2013 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2013
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BOSTON - The Boston University women’s basketball team and the University of Hartford will meet for the final time as America East rivals on Saturday (Feb. 2), when BU hosts Hartford at Case Gym. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN.
The first 500 fans will receive a free replica BU Basketball jersey courtesy of the America East Conference. Radio Disney will be at The Roof with music, games, prizes and more. The fan interactive Disney entertainment will take place during the pregame in the lobby and at halftime on the court.
BU students can win a new 42” HDTV by attending both the women’s basketball and women’s ice hockey game on Saturday. It is also BU Women’s Basketball Alumni Day and former players will be honored at the game.
Saturday’s game is the second time this season that the Terriers and the Hawks will meet on the hardwood and the 62nd meeting in series history. BU defeated Hartford, 45-39, on Jan. 5, in West Hartford, Conn and owns a 32-29 advantage in the series while riding a three-game winning streak against the Hawks into Saturday’s game. BU looks for its second straight season sweep of Hartford. Last year, the Terriers swept the Hawks by scores of 53-46 at home and 57-52 on the road for their first season sweep since the 2008-09 season.
BU begins the second half of its final America East season with a 7-1 mark in conference play and an overall record of 17-4. The Terriers have won 14 of their last 15 games and sit in second place in the conference standings.
The Terriers have relied on both their offense and defense to win games, as their 62.5 ppg ranks second in the league while they have allowed opponents 51.8 ppg, which also ranks second. The Terriers are shooting 39.9 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from beyond the arc while limiting opponents to a 34.8 percent clip.
BU boasts the conference leader in three of the top statistical categories. Senior Chantell Alford leads the league with 17.1 ppg while junior Rashidat Agboola is the top rebounder with 9.0 boards per contest. Senior Mo Moran is also tops in the America East with 6.2 assists per game.
In addition to Alford, Agboola (11.6 ppg) and Moran (10.5 ppg) also average double-digit scoring performances for BU. Junior Whitney Turner and classmate Agboola have made their presence felt on the defensive end, having combined for 64 blocks this season to rank first and second in the league with 1.6 and 1.5 blocks per game, respectively.
Hartford makes the trip to Boston as winners of five of its last six games, with the Hawks last loss occurring against BU on Jan. 5. Hartford is coming off a 60-51 road win at Vermont on Wednesday night to stand at 14-7 overall and third place in the conference with a 5-3 record against America East opponents.
Senior Nikkia Smith leads the Hawks with 10.9 ppg and 5.5 ppg. Sophomore Amber Bepko is second on the team with 10.6 ppg after missing seven games due to injury. The Hawks have used various lineups throughout the season, as senior Daphne Elliot (8.2 ppg) and junior Alyssa Englert (4.4 ppg) are the only two players to have started all 21 games this season.
As a team, the Hawks are shooting 56.5 ppg and limiting opponents to 55.1 ppg, which both rank third in the league. Hartford is averaging a 39.3 field goal percentage and ranks second in the conference with 8.9 steals per game.
The Terriers will remain at home for their next game when they welcome Stony Brook to Case Gym on Wednesday (Feb. 6). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
