BOSTON – Following a season-opening three-game road trip, the Boston University women's basketball team will open a three-game homestand against local rival Harvard at Case Gym with the Tuesday night tip-off slated for 7 p.m.
The Crimson (2-1) is making its first trek to The Roof since the Terriers (0-3) pulled out a 63-62 win in 2014 with senior Meghan Green tallying a then career-high 19 points. Overall, Harvard owns a slight advantage, 16-15, in the all-time series dating back to 1976, but BU has prevailed at home in five of the last six meetings, including the 2012 overtime thriller, 68-61.
BU enters the matchup looking to carry momentum from Saturday's strong second half performance at defending America East champion Albany in which it outscored the Great Danes, 37-24. Senior Sarah Hope tallied 20 points with the help of six 3-pointers, one shy of her personal best, while Meghan Green also reached double figures with 11 points.
Through three games, Hope ranks seventh in the Patriot League in scoring at 15.3 ppg, while junior Sophie Beaudry ranks eighth in rebounding at 7.3 rpg. One week ago, Beaudry nearly had a double-double at Boston College with eight points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Beaudry also added four blocks against the Eagles and currently sits atop the blocks category in the PL at 2.7 bpg.
Other key contributors so far include junior Kara Sheftic, who is averaging 9.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg, and senior Courtney Latham (4.7 ppg), who ranks in the top 10 in the PL in both assists (2.7 apg) and steals (2.0 spg). Following her first double-figure scoring performance of the season at Albany, Green is now averaging 7.0 ppg with 4.0 rpg.
Starting the season with a 102-87 loss at Minnesota, Harvard (2-1) is currently on a two-game win streak following home wins over Maine (69-62) and Samford (57-52). Reigning Co-Ivy League Player of the Week Destiny Nunley led the sweep at home after tallying 22 points and seven rebounds against the Black Bears along with 10 points against the Bulldogs. The forward is averaging a team-high 13.7 ppg and 5.0 rpg.
Through three contests, Harvard is averaging 71.0 ppg while shooting 42.5 percent from the field and an even stronger 43.5 percent in 3-point territory. Raster Madeline (11.7 ppg) and Katie Benzan (10.3 ppg) are the other two Crimson players in double figures, while Kirby Porter is averaging a team-high 6.7 rpg.
The Terriers will next face their fourth in-state rival of the season on Saturday (Nov. 26) when they host UMass Lowell. The tip-off for the "Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer" game, which supports the Go4theGoal Foundation in helping kids with cancer achieve their goals, is set for 2 p.m.
