Terriers Fend Off Greyhounds for Eighth Straight Win, 65-57

Saturday, January 21

Baltimore, MD

2 PM

Boston University

13-6,8-0Patriot

Loyola Maryland

7-12,2-6Patriot

Boston U.

Loyola Maryland

Photo of women's basketball senior Sydney Johnson dribbling the ball.

Photo by: Matt Woolverton

Terriers Fend Off Greyhounds for Eighth Straight Win, 65-57

January 21, 2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Postgame Audio - Melissa Graves

BALTIMORE, Md. – Senior Sydney Johnson posted a season-high 21 points, junior Caitlin Weimar and sophomore Alex Giannaros each tallied 13 points, and the Boston University women's basketball program won its eighth-straight game with a 65-57 triumph over Loyola Maryland on Saturday afternoon at Reitz Arena.

BU (13-6, 8-0 PL) did not trail in the game, but the Greyhounds (7-12, 2-6 PL) got as close as four points in the second quarter, and six points in the third. However, Johnson scored 15 of her points in the second half, helping BU overcome a 16.7 percent shooting clip in the fourth quarter.

With the win, BU has won eight-consecutive Patriot League matchups for the first time in 10 seasons as a league member.

Johnson also led the team with three assists and five steals. Weimar recorded seven rebounds and three blocks, while Giannaros buried a trio of three-pointers. Senior Maren Durant notched 13 boards and three rejections.

Lex Therien collected 21 points and 15 rebounds, while Taleah Dixon finished with 12 points. Koi Sims totaled a game-high 16 rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

On Loyola's first two offensive possessions, Durant stuffed Therien near the rim.
Meanwhile, the Terriers opened the game on a 9-0 run in the first 4:12, featuring a left-wing three from Giannaros and two layups via Weimar.
The Greyhounds came within seven, but a Durant hook shot and Weimar layup helped BU take a 20-10 lead through 10 minutes of action. Weimar had 10 points in the period.
With BU ahead 25-14 at the 7:35 mark of the second, Loyola ripped off a 9-2 run. Devyne Newman's three with 4:18 on the clock made it 27-23 Terriers, coaxing a timeout from the BU bench.
Junior Sophie Beneventine and Caramina Tanedo traded threes after the break, but Johnson scored the next five points of the game, picking off an errant pass for a fastbreak layup, then hitting a step-back three to push the BU edge to 35-26.
Entering the third quarter up 37-28, BU didn't get its first points until Giannaros inbounded the ball from the baseline to an open Johnson for a right-elbow jumper 2:06 into the stanza.
Johnson would go on to score 11 of BU's first 13 points in the frame. She capitalized on a nostalgic three-point play with a floater, then had two-consecutive plays with a steal that translated into layups.
The Greyhounds limited the Terriers to two points in the final 3:52 of the quarter, however, scoring nine points of their own in that span to make it 52-44 BU entering the fourth.
BU's scoring drought extended over five minutes, but neither team scored in the first 3:44 of the fourth quarter. Durant's free throw with 6:16 to play halted that stretch.
Dixon's jumper with 5:36 left pulled Loyola within 53-46, but a Weimar free throw and a Giannaros triple replenished the BU lead to 57-46 with 3:19 remaining.
In the final 2:20, Johnson and Giannaros combined for eight free throws to keep the Greyhounds at bay.

STATS

The Terriers shot 42.3 percent in the game, and 40 percent (6-for-15) from deep.
Loyola Maryland made 41.1 percent of its shots, but were just 29.4 percent from beyond the arc.
The Greyhounds had the 36-32 edge in rebounds, marking Saturday the first time this year BU won despite being out-rebounded.
The Terriers collected seven steals and six blocks.
BU scored 14 points off turnovers, and had a 24-20 edge in points in the paint.

GAME NOTES

Johnson's performance is her 12th-career game with 20 or more points. Her seven baskets matches her season-high, which came against St. Francis Brooklyn on Nov. 23.
Durant's 13 boards is also equal to her season-high against the Terriers on that day. In her career, she has 48 games with multiple rejections.
Giannaros now has four games this season with three or more three-pointers. She has drained eight of her last 11 three-point attempts.
Reaching double figures for the 12th time in 14 games, Weimar also secures her 20th effort as a Terrier with three-plus swats.
BU has won eight in a row in conference play for the first time since the 2011-12 season. The Terriers had a win streak of eight-plus contests during the 2012-13 campaign that encompassed non-conference and conference matchups.
The eight-point victory matches the 73-65 triumph over Merrimack on Dec. 7 as the lowest margin this year. It is the first win of less than 10 points in Patriot League play.
The Terriers are 13-3 when scoring 60 or more points in 2022-23.
BU improves to 12-6 all-time against Loyola Maryland, having won five-consecutive games.

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