Sydney Johnson works around a defender at the top of the key against UMass Lowell.
Jim Pierce

Women’s Basketball Hosts American on Saturday, Aims for 3-0 PL Start

January 7, 2022

Boston University (6-7, 2-0 PL) vs. American (8-3, 1-0 PL)
Date & Time: Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, 1 p.m.
Venue: Case Gym, Boston, Mass.

Watch: ESPN+
Twitter: @BUGameDay | @TerrierWBB 
Rosters: BU | American
Schedule: BU | American
Game Notes: BU | American 
 
BOSTON – The Boston University women's basketball team seeks its third consecutive win to open up Patriot League play when it welcomes American to Case Gym on Saturday (Jan. 8). Opening tip is set for 1 p.m.
 
The Terriers, having already dispatched Navy and Loyola Maryland, have started 3-0 in league action twice in the last three seasons. A win would mark the first time that BU has won its first three Patriot League games in back-to-back seasons since joining the conference in the 2013-14 campaign.
 
American looks to improve to 2-0 in the Patriot League after taking down Colgate on Wednesday in its league lid-lifter. That matchup was the Eagles' first since Dec. 18, however, after COVID-19 protocols around the league delayed their start to conference play.
 
TERRIER TIDBITS
  • BU used a 21-10 fourth quarter to pull away from the Greyhounds 64-51 in Maryland on Wednesday evening.
  • Junior Sydney Johnson shot 8-for-10 from the foul line in the second half, and finished with a game-high 18 points.
  • Forwards Maren Durant and Riley Childs posted 14 and 13 rebounds, respectively. Durant also had four blocks and a career-high five assists, while Childs collected her 600th career rebound.
  • Sophomore Caitlin Weimar and freshman Alex Giannaros scored 13 points each, while Weimar added three blocks.
  • Since the start of December, the BU defense has allowed more than 60 points once in seven games. Opponents are shooting just .357 during that stretch.
  • The Terriers are 6-1 when scoring 60 or more points, and are 6-1 when leading after three quarters.
  • BU has snagged 98 rebounds in their first two Patriot League games, the highest average (49/game) by any team in league play so far. All six of the Terriers' wins have come when outrebounding their foes.
  • In her last five games, Johnson is averaging 13.8 points per game while sporting a 23:7 (3.28) assist/turnover ratio.
  • BU has improved its turnover percentages, giving up 11.7 in its last four games after giving up 21.7 in its previous nine contests.
  • The Terrier bench, averaging 19.8 points per game this year, has scored 20-plus points in five straight games. In five of the last six games, a Terrier reserve has scored in double figures.
  • In total, seven Terriers are averaging 6.5 points or more in 2021-22.
  • Giannaros is averaging nine points in her last five games, shooting 50 percent (16-for-32) from the field in that span.
  • In the last three contests, Weimar has averaged 12.3 points and 7.7 rebounds.
  • Durant, who has 92 career blocks in 58 games, is three rejections away from 10th place all-time. Kerry Cashman holds the spot currently with 95.
 
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
  • American, the fourth-ranked team in the PL Preseason Poll, is 8-3 on the year and 1-0 in the PL, having recently defeated Colgate 66-52 on Wednesday.
  • The Eagles have won six of their last seven games, which includes a 13-point road win at ACC foe Virginia.
  • American leads the Patriot League in field goal percentage (.454), steals per game (8.8), and rebounding defense (32.2 allowed per game).
  • Preseason Patriot League Player of the Year Jade Edwards paces the Eagles with 14.4 points per game and 42 assists.
  • Taylor Brown is the only other Eagle in double figures with 11.4 points/game.
  • Last season, American won the Patriot League South Division, going 6-3 in conference and 7-4 overall.
 
SERIES HISTORY
  • Saturday marks the 22nd all-time meeting between BU and American in a series that dates back to 1981.
  • The Eagles lead the rivalry 14-7, but the Terriers have won three of the last four matchups.
  • The programs did not face off in the altered 2020-21 regular season. The last matchup occurred in the PL Semifinals on March 11, a 72-51 Terrier victory. Johnson dropped a then career-high 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, and Esposito added 16 points off the bench. Durant and Childs notched 14 and 11 rebounds, respectively.
  • BU has allowed 48.8 points per game in its last five games vs. American.
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