Jan. 22, 2014

Box Score | Watch Replay on PLN | Highlights | M. McKendrick Postgame Comments

BOSTON – Despite having two players record double-doubles for the first time since 2012, the Boston University women’s basketball team was edged by American, 63-56, on Wednesday night at Case Gym. The Terriers record drops to 7-13 on the season and 2-5 in Patriot League play while American improves to 13-5 with its fifth-straight victory and 6-1 in PL action.

Making her second start in as many games, junior Mollie McKendrick led the Terriers with a career-high 18 points to go with 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Sophomore Clodagh Scannell, also making her second career start, pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds to go with 10 points for the first double-double of her career.

The last time the Terriers had two players record double-doubles was a 56-31 win at Stony Brook on Feb. 11, 2012, when Rashidat Agboola and Caroline Stewart (‘12) accomplished the feat.

Agboola was the third Terrier to reach double-digits against the Eagles with 12 points and six rebounds. The senior is now four points away from becoming the 22nd player in program history to score 1,000 career points.

American was led by 22 points from Alexis Dobbs while Michelle Holmes and Jen Dumiak added 10 points each. Sarah Kiely pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds for the Eagles, who out-rebounded BU by a 45-34 margin.

The Terriers shot 35.6 percent (21-of-59) for the game and went 5-for-18 from beyond the arc while making 9-of-10 free throw attempts. American finished with a 37.3 field goal percentage (22-of-59) and shot 8-for-17 from the 3-point line while converting 11-of-14 trips to the charity stripe.

BU held an early 4-2 lead in the game before the Eagles embarked on a 14-1 run during a span that lasted more than six minutes. McKendrick ended the scoring drought for the Terriers with a jumper and a free throw to bring the score to 16-8 in favor of American with 11:42 remaining in the first half.

The Terriers cut into their deficit with a 7-2 run to pull within six points, 21-15, following a trey from freshman Sarah Hope. The teams traded baskets on the next few possessions and Holmes put the Eagles on top, 29-21, with 1:58 to go in the half. Agboola closed out the opening period with a pair of free throws to send BU into the break trailing, 29-23.

Opening the second half with a 10-0 run, BU took a 33-29 lead with a jumper from McKendrick just over three minutes into the period. American regained the lead with a 4-0 spurt including a layup from Geleisa George to go ahead 36-35 with 14:02 on the clock.

Over the span of three minutes, the teams traded baskets and the lead. Four straight possessions resulted in a 3-pointer for the offense, with Scannell and Hope connecting for the Terriers and Lauren Crisler knocking down a pair for the Eagles, as the game became knotted at 47-47 with 8:52 to play.

The Terriers took a three-point lead with a three-point play from senior Whitney Turner but Shaquilla Curtis gave a one-point advantage to the Eagles with a layup and Dumiak capitalized on a BU turnover with triple to put American on top, 56-52, with 3:28 remaining.

BU was unable to score another field goal and American closed out the game by going 7-for-8 from the free throw line to earn the 63-56 victory.

BU will remain at home on Saturday (Jan. 25) to host Bucknell. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the Patriot League Network.

Saturday’s game is National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The day is devoted to recognizing the progress of girls and women in sports. BU Athletics will be holding a pregame event featuring a question and answer session with current female BU student-athletes, a special guest speaker and much more. All participants at the pregame NGWSD event receive free admission to the game along with free food & drinks. For more information and to sign up visit http://www.goterriers.com/ngwsd