EASTON, Pa. –  Visiting Lafayette for its Patriot League opener, Maggie Pina netted a career-high 26 points, but the Leopards sunk a mid-range jumper at the buzzer to hand the Boston University women's basketball team a 59-57 defeat Thursday night.

Pina was the bright spot for the Terriers offensively, connecting on 9-of-18 from the floor and 5-of-10 from 3-point range. Katie Nelson picked up nine rebounds to match a career high, while Riley Childs led the squad with four assists.

Down by four with under a minute left, Childs put the Terriers within two before a Pina layup with 11.3 seconds remaining knotted the score at 57-all. On the final possession of the game, the Leopards nearly lost the ball at the baseline as time was running out, but Sarah Agnello found an open Nicole Johnson from just inside the arc for the game-winner as time expired.

How It Happened

• Lafayette worked the post and ran the floor to pull ahead, 11-7, three minutes into play.
• BU exploded coming out of a timeout with a 10-0 run, with half of those points coming from Pina.
• Nia Irving closed out the quarter by converting on an and-1 to make it a 17-11 game.
• The Terriers picked up where they left off to start the second, as Nelson and Childs guided a 5-0 run to push ahead, 22-13, with 7:13 left in the half.
• However, the Leopards ripped a 10-0 run of their own over a five-minute span to go back on top, 23-22.
• Pina knocked down a 3-pointer to swing the scoreboard before delivering another triple at the buzzer, giving BU a 28-23 advantage at the break.
• The freshman remained red-hot to start the second half, putting in five straight point to maintain the five-point margin, 33-28.
• Lafayette slowly chipped away at the deficit, while a 7-2 run late in the frame put the Leopards back in command, 44-42.
• Irving put in three straight from the free throw line over the final minute of the third, giving the Terriers a one-point edge.
• The Leopards clawed back once again, using two straight layups to swing the scoreboard before a Nelson 3-pointer tied it up, 48-48, with 6:32 to play.
• Lafayette went back up by four, but Pina stroked the Terriers back within one possession twice, holding the deficit at 55-53 as 1:52 stood on the clock.
• Following Childs' layup, Sydney Johnson came up with a steal on the ensuing possession with 19 seconds left, giving room for BU to own one final offensive possession.

Game Notes

• Pina has four 20-point games over the last eight contests.
• Each of the last three matchups between the Terriers and Leopards have been decided by one possession.
• BU took care of the ball, turning it over a season-low 10 times.

Up Next

• BU will return home for a 2 p.m. matchup against American on Sunday, Jan. 5.