LEWISBURG, Pa. – Senior
Caitlin Weimar posted 16 points to lead three Terriers in double figures, but the Boston University women's basketball team fell to Bucknell 61-52 on Wednesday evening at Sojka Pavilion.
BU (11-5, 3-2 PL) entered the fourth quarter with a two-point lead. However, the Bison (4-12, 1-4 PL) outscored the Terriers in the final frame, 18-7, with BU's offense silenced for over seven minutes in the stanza.
Weimar also paced the Terriers with three blocks and three steals. Sophomore
Anastasiia Semenova scored 12 points, while freshman
Audrey Ericksen collected 11 first-half points.
Emma Theodorsson dropped a game-high 31 points on 10-of-18 shooting to power the Bison. Ashley O'Connor was the next leading scorer for Bucknell with eight points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- BU made three of its first five shots with a turnaround jumper from senior Sophie Beneventine, and layups from Semenova and Weimar to take an early 6-5 lead.
- Bucknell blocked five shots in the opening quarter, however. Theodorsson's nine points and three Bison triples gave the home side a 16-11 edge after 10 minutes.
- Ericksen helped level the score at 18-18 over three minutes into the second on a left-wing three-pointer and conventional three-point play on a runner down the left lane.
- On a third offensive chance for BU past the midpoint of the second, Beneventine's offensive rebound helped her find Ericksen for another left wing three to knot the game at 23-23.
- After freshman Aoibhe Gormley picked off a pass inside the paint, junior Alex Giannaros' baseline drive and kick-out found senior Kelsi Mingo for a three to hand the Terriers a 29-27 lead with 1:53 until halftime.
- O'Connor responded with a Bucknell three, but Mingo cashed in on a runner on the next play. Later on, two foul shots from Weimar staked BU to a 33-30 edge at the end of the first half.
- Semenova banked in a straightaway three-pointer for a 36-33 Terrier lead, but Grace Sullivan's turnaround jumper and Ashley Sofilkanich's two free throws returned the lead to Bucknell.
- Both sides traded points until Giannaros canned her first triple of the game with 37 seconds left in the third. O'Connor would make a pull-up basket before time expired, making it 45-43 in BU's favor heading to the final quarter.
- The first five possessions in the fourth featured buckets for each team. Weimar hit a layup and Giannaros sank a jumper in the high paint, but Theodorsson's turnaround shot at the 8:05 mark put Bucknell on top, 49-48.
- BU did not make a field goal for 7:52, as Blake Matthews hit a three and Sullivan collected a layup in transition to build a 57-50 Bison lead.
- Weimar cleaned the offensive glass for a putback with under 35 seconds left to bring BU within five, but Bucknell closed the game with free throws the rest of the way.
STATS
- BU shot a season-low 31 percent (18-of-58) in the game, making just 7-of-26 from the field in the second half.
- Bucknell knocked down under 38 of its total shots, but were 8-for-15 (53.3 percent) from deep compared to the Terriers' 29.4 percent clip.
- BU had the edge in points in the paint (22-18) and second-chance points (10-7).
- The Bison led for 27:25 in the game.
- Giannaros totaled career-highs with eight rebounds and seven assists.
- Both teams snagged 37 rebounds.
NOTES
- Weimar has scored 10-plus points in 12-consecutive games.
- Semenova notched her sixth game this season in double figures.
- Ericksen recorded double digits for the first time since Dec. 9 against Harvard.
- BU has lost back-to-back road games in Patriot League play for the first time since Feb. 12-Mar. 2, 2022, a span of three games.
- The Terriers' winning streak against Bucknell concludes at four games, as the Bison now lead the all-time series 12-7.
UP NEXT
- BU returns to Terrier Town to welcome Colgate during Alumni Day on Saturday (Jan. 20). Opening tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.