BALTIMORE, Md. – Junior Sydney Johnson notched a game-high 18 points and three steals, sophomore Caitlin Weimar poured in 13 points and three blocks, and the Boston University women's basketball program outlasted Loyola Maryland 64-51 for its second-straight Patriot League action on Wednesday evening at Reitz Arena.
 
Both sides countered one another in the first three quarters; there were eight lead changes, and neither side led by more than two at the end of each frame. However, the Terriers (6-7, 2-0 PL) launched an extended 13-2 run to pull away in the fourth, eventually outscoring the Greyhounds (3-8, 0-1 PL) 21-10 in the final frame.
 
Junior Maren Durant filled the stat sheet with team-highs of 14 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks. Senior Riley Childs added a season-high 13 boards, while freshman Alex Giannaros totaled 13 points on a trio of three-pointers.
 
Lex Therien posted a double-double for Loyola with 13 ponts and 11 rebounds. Caramina Tanedo collected four three-pointers for 12 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• BU scored the game's first five points on an Esposito corner three and bucket from Weimar while drawing contact, and held Loyola off the scoreboard until the 6:12 mark of the first quarter.
• However, the Greyhounds countered with a 10-0 run, with Charia Roberts accounting for six points.
• Junior Annabelle Larnard put back an offensive rebound, and freshman Alex Giannaros drove baseline for a layup to finish the first quarter. BU trailed 10-9 after 10 minutes.
• The duo each hit three-pointers to boost the Terriers to a 15-10 edge 2:30 into the second quarter. Loyola answered with a 7-2 run to knot the game at 17.
• Caramina Tanedo canned a right-wing triple to give the Greyhounds a 22-19 lead, but Johnson's floater and a contested jumper from sophomore Sophie Beneventine inside the arc pushed BU ahead 23-22 with 1:07 until halftime.
• A Lex Therien foul shot knotted the score at 23 as each team headed to the locker room.
• The Terriers ignited the third quarter with an 8-0 run to go up 31-23. Senior Riley Childs made a layup and forced two steals, plus junior Maggie Pina buried a right-corner three.
• Loyola came within 35-34 when Durant received the high-post pass and sank the layup.
• With the score 41-all, Johnson drove through the right lane and potted the floater to stake BU to 43-41 advantage at the buzzer.
• After Loyola tied the score, Weimar stuffed Roberts' jumper in the low paint, and Johnson raced through the paint and hit the runner while drawing the foul, later completing the three-point play. Giannaros then canned another three to make it 49-43 Terriers two minutes into the stanza.
• BU's run expanded to 13-2 over the course of 5:51 when Giannaros drilled a three, then Johnson scored another and-one basket. The latter made it 56-45 with less than four minutes remaining.

 
GAME NOTES

• The Terriers shot 33.3 percent for the game, but assisted on 13 of their 21 buckets.
• Loyola also shot .333, but went 2-for-10 from the field in the final 10 minutes.
• BU went 16-for-20 from the free throw line, gave up a season-low eight turnovers, and tied a season-best with nine blocks.
• Johnson led the Terriers in scoring for the 16th time in her career. She shot 80 percent from the charity stripe, and leads BU with an .816 clip on the season.
• Weimar has eclipsed double figures in scoring in three straight games, and six times this season.
• Giannaros has tallied 31 points on 7-of-13 shooting from distance in her first two Patriot League games.
• Durant corralled 10-plus boards for the fourth time this year. BU has won its last three games when she's reached that mark. With her four rejections, she is three away from Kerry Cashman for 10th all-time in career blocks.
• Childs now has 20 career games with 10 or more boards, and five in 2021-22.
• BU improves to 10-6 all-time against Loyola. The Terriers have won seven of the last nine meetings, and allowed less than 60 points in the last four.
• BU also boosts its record in night games to 5-0.

 
UP NEXT

• BU heads back to Boston for a Saturday matchup with American on Jan. 8. Opening tip is set for 1 p.m.