Terriers Grind Out 62-55 Road Victory Over Leopards

Saturday, January 6

Easton, PA

2 PM

Boston University

10-3,2-0Patriot

Lafayette

6-7,1-1Patriot

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Boston U.	14	14	17	17	62
Lafayette	7	16	16	16	55

Photo of women's basketball senior Caitlin Weimar holding the ball over her head with two Lafayette defenders closing in.

Photo by: Boston University Athletics

Terriers Grind Out 62-55 Road Victory Over Leopards

January 6, 2024 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Postgame Audio - Melissa Graves

EASTON, Pa. – Sophomore Anastasiia Semenova dropped a career-high 21 points, senior Caitlin Weimar added a 19-point, 17-rebound double-double, and the Boston University women's basketball program defeated Lafayette 62-55 on Saturday afternoon at the Kirby Sports Center.

Though BU (10-3, 2-0 PL). led for over 32 minutes in the game, the Terriers' largest lead was only 13 points, with the Leopards (6-7, 1-1 PL) clawing within three points multiple times in the fourth quarter.

With the win, BU has won five games in a row, dating back to Dec. 9.

Semenova nailed all three of her three-pointers while hitting 8-of-9 from the charity stripe. In addition to her double-double, Weimar helped draw 13 fouls to make nine free throws. Junior Alex Giannaros and senior Kelsi Mingo added nine and eight points, respectively.

Makayla Andrews paced the Leopards with 17 points, while Abby Antognoli and Sauda Ntaconayigize each scored 11 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Senior Sophie Beneventine converted a second-chance, turnaround jumper for BU's first points, but the Terriers would miss their next eight shots to allow the Leopards to go ahead, 4-2.
After Halee Smith's triple gave the Leopards a 7-5 lead, the Terriers closed the first on a 9-0 run in the final 2:23. Mingo nailed a straightaway three, then Weimar collected the last six points.
Trailing 14-7, Lafayette ignited the second quarter with seven-consecutive points, including Kay Donahue's shot clock-beating three and a tying jumper from Smith.
More than halfway through the frame, following Smith's bucket to put Lafayette ahead, Semenova hesitated before knocking down a three-pointer to return the lead to the Terriers, 22-21, with 4:14 until halftime.
BU went into the break up 28-23 after freshman Aoibhe Gormley picked off Antognoli and found Mingo in transition for a layup. The Terriers held the Leopards scoreless over the final 3:46.
A corner three from Giannaros and Semenova's old-fashioned three-point play on a floater keyed an 8-0 Terrier spurt to put the visitors up 38-25 three minutes into the second half.
The Terriers remained ahead by 13 after Giannaros' driving up-and-under layup midway through the third, but Antognoli's triple punctuated a 7-0 Lafayette run to cap the stanza.
Smith's midrange jumper made it a one-possession game, 52-49 BU, with 5:41 to play. However, Andrews was assessed a technical foul before the inbound, allowing Semenova to nail two free throws to replenish a five-point Terrier advantage.
Mingo countered Antognoli's basket with a driving layup down the left lane, then Weimar's layup with 3:50 on the clock gave BU a 58-51 cushion.
Semenova drilled a dagger three-pointer along the right wing with 1:54 to play to seal the win.

STATS

The Terriers shot 37.3 percent from the field, and 5-of-12 (.417) from beyond the arc.
Lafayette made over 40 percent of its shots, but was just 5-for-18 from downtown.
BU surrendered a team-low 10 turnovers on the day.
The rebounding battle favored the Leopards, 35-34.
BU sported an 18-10 advantage in points in the paint.
Saturday's game featured 10 lead changes and five ties.

NOTES

Semenova reached the 20-point plateau for the first time in her collegiate career. She has set a personal-best in scoring five this year.
Weimar has recorded five-straight games with a double-double, and nine on the year.
In her last four games, Mingo is shooting 48 percent (12-for-25).
Saturday marked BU's sixth win by single digits. That already eclipses last season's total.
The Terriers became the first Patriot League program in 2023-24 to record 10 overall wins.
The all-time series now stands at 21-10 in the Terriers' favor.

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