BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Behind an explosive first quarter and an impressive defensive performance, the Boston University women's basketball team completed its first sweep of the season by downing Lehigh, 52-48, Saturday afternoon at Stabler Arena.

Katie Nelson came out of the gates on fire, connecting on her first four 3-point attempts as the Terriers rushed out to an 18-5 command at the end of the opening frame. BU held Lehigh to shoot under 40.0 percent from the field in all four quarters as it held on for the win.
 
How it Happened

• Nelson started the game by scoring nine of BU's first 11 points from beyond-the-arc.
• The Terriers held the Mountain Hawks to make just two of their 12 field goal attempts in the first quarter to surge ahead, 18-5.
• Riley Childs and Payton Hauck combined for three straight jumpers to put the score at 24-10 three minutes into the second.
• BU scored all 10 of its points in the second frame in the paint to hold the scoreboard at 28-18 heading into the break.
• Lehigh used a 9-2 run to start the third, cutting the gap to 30-27, but Nelson hit again from 3-point range to put the Terriers ahead, 33-27, at the halfway point.
• Lauren Spearman capped an 8-2 run to end the frame, swishing a 3-pointer from the wing to cushion the lead to 38-29.
• Spearman and Hauck continued to stroke it, combining for 10 straight points to keep the nine-point advantage, 43-34, with six minutes to play.
• Spearman was critical down the stretch, hitting her third triple of the second half with just over two minutes left to put BU ahead by 10.
• The Mountain Hawks made it a one-possession game, 51-48, with 9.3 ticks to go, but the Terriers closed out the game from the free throw line to hold on for the win. 

Game Notes

• With the win, BU now stands in sole possession of third place in the Patriot League standings.
• Over its two games with the Mountain Hawks this season, BU has held them to a combined seven points in the first quarter.
• Saturday marked the first time BU has swept the Mountain Hawks since the 2016-17 season.
• Naiyah Thompson grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds over 26 minutes off the bench.

Up Next

• BU will head to Colgate for a 7 p.m. tip against the Raiders on Wednesday, Feb. 13.