The Boston University women's basketball team will conclude its season-opening three-game road trip on Saturday when the Terriers travel to Albany to take on the Great Danes. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m.
BU (0-2) is 19-8 all-time against Albany (1-2) in a series that dates back to 2000. Albany has won the last four meetings, however, including an 83-43 victory last year. This is the first time BU has traveled to Albany since 2013 when the Terriers were still a part of the America East.
The Terriers are looking for their first win of the season, though BU was in it until the end at Boston College on Monday. After cutting a 12-point halftime deficit to just five entering the fourth quarter, BC put together a 15-5 run to close out a 67-49 victory. Junior
Sophie Beaudry was terrific for the Terriers, collecting a career-high 13 rebounds to go along with eight points. Senior
Sarah Hope once again led BU in scoring with a second straight 13-point performance, and junior
Kara Sheftic joined Hope with 13 points.
The season is still young, but Beaudry and Hope are among the Patriot League leaders in several categories. Beaudry ranks third in the conference with an average of 9.5 rebounds per game after recording just 2.2 rebounds per game over her first two years at Monmouth. Hope is tops in the Patriot League with an average of 3.5 3-pointers made per game. She is the only Patriot League player averaging over 3.0 threes per game.
Through two games, BU has averaged 14.0 offensive rebounds per game, tied for second-most in the conference behind Lafayette (14.3). The Terriers also lead the league in offensive rebound percentage, bringing down 41.2 percent of the rebounds in the offensive end. They have limited opponents to just 40 defensive rebounds, the lowest mark in the conference.
Albany is 1-2 this year but a perfect 1-0 at home thanks to the win over Army West Point. The Great Danes previously traveled to Kentucky for a pair of games, losing to the Wildcats (70-46) and to Miami (77-53). Imani Tate leads Albany in scoring with 15.3 points per game; she is the only Great Dane averaging double figures in points. Tate also leads Albany with 4.0 assists per game. Bose Aiyalogbe is the leading rebounder (6.7 rpg) and Jessica Fequiere is second on the squad in scoring (9.3 ppg).
Following Saturday's game, BU will make its 2016-17 debut at Case Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 22, when the Terriers welcome Harvard to The Roof at 7 p.m.
