WORCESTER, Mass. – Featuring three Terriers in double figures and a tremendous defensive effort that held Holy Cross to 30.0 percent shooting, the Boston University women's basketball team defeated the Crusaders, 66-49, on Friday afternoon in the Patriot League opener for both squads. Senior Sarah Hope finished with a game-high 17 points and seven rebounds to earn Turnpike Trophy MVP honors.
 
THE RUNDOWN

Final Score: Boston University 66, Holy Cross 49
Records: BU (3-9, 1-0 PL), Holy Cross (2-10, 0-1)
Location: Hart Center - Worcester, Mass.
Watch Replay: PatriotLeague.tv
BU Leaders: Hope (17p, 7r), Latham (11p, 8r, 7a), Beaudry (13p, 6r)
Holy Cross Leaders: Manis (11p, 9r), Doherty (13p, 5r), Byrne (12p)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Senior guard Sarah Hope took the game over in the 1st, scoring 16 of her game-high 17 points in the first frame. Hope shot 6-for-8, including 4-of-5 from beyond the 3-point line in the first, helping the Terriers turn a 5-0 early deficit into a 24-15 lead after one quarter.
• The teams were tied at 14 with 2:13 to go in the first when BU went on a 10-1 run, helped by two 3-pointers from Hope.
• BU later extended its lead to 16 points in the second quarter. After Holy Cross closed the score to 31-22 with 2:11 to play, BU went on a 7-0 run with sophomore Payton Hauck scoring the final three points for a 38-22 lead at the half.
• Junior Sophie Beaudry led the Terriers offensively in the second half with eight of her 13 points. She extended the BU lead to 18 points (44-26) with 4:08 left in the 3rd after a tough offensive rebound and a layup. Beaudry added six points in the final quarter alone, as she went 5-for-7 from the line to help BU seal it down the stretch.
• Guard Courtney Latham led all Terriers in rebounding with eight, including three big ones in the fourth quarter alone, to help the Terriers maintain their double-digit lead.

• Hope's first 3-pointer of the game was her 200th career 3-pointer as a Terrier. The Medway, Mass. native became just the fourth Terrier to make 200 3-pointers in their career. She ended the game with 203 career 3-pointers and needs just five more to tie Kristi Dunn ('09) for third on the all-time list.
• BU had a big advantage at the free throw line, as Holy Cross shot 5-9 (55.6%) from the line, while BU went 18-of-32 (56.3%).
• Limited to 30 percent shooting overall, Holy Cross went just 8-of-35 (22.9%) from 3-point range, while the Terriers finished 4-of-11 (36.4%).
• The teams combined for 39 turnovers in the game with the Crusaders turning it over 22 times.
• BU had the edge in rebounding, 43-40.
• Friday's contest was also the first winter matchup between the two schools in the Turnpike Trophy all-sports competition. The Terriers are the reigning champions after posting a winning score of 20-4 last year. BU is currently ahead, 5-1, following Friday's win combined with the completion of the fall. 

• BU will travel to Bethlehem, Pa. to take on Lehigh on Monday, Jan. 2, at 2 p.m.