BOSTON – Senior Alex Giannaros was the top scorer among three Terriers in double digits, finishing with 15 points, however, the Boston University women’s basketball team could not fend off Navy in a 74-64 loss on Wednesday afternoon at Case Gym.
BU (7-11, 1-6 PL) narrowed what was at one point an 11-point gap to a single possession in the last three minutes of regulation. Nevertheless, the Mids (14-4, 6-1 PL) concluded the game with an 11-2 surge, marking the Terriers’ fourth consecutive defeat.
Giannaros hit three three-pointers and led BU with four assists. Sophomore Bella McLaughlin contributed 11 points and six rebounds while her classmate Aoibhe Gormley added 10 points.
Zanai Barnett-Gay topped all players with 26 points on 50 percent shooting. Julianna Almeida and Lizzie Holder notched 15 and 13 points respectively.
HOW IT UNFOLDED
BU began the match with successive three-pointers from Ericksen and Giannaros in the first 1:34, but Navy responded with five consecutive points to take an early 6-5 lead.
McLaughlin pushed Navy back with two layups that provided BU a three-point advantage, then Monteagudo assisted Warren in transition for a layup, extending it to 14-9 with 1:25 left in the opening quarter.
A trio of Navy three-pointers in the first 88 seconds of the second quarter shifted the momentum, only for Gormley to answer with a layup on the next possession that returned the lead to the Terriers, 20-19.
An additional basket from McLaughlin pushed the Terrier lead to 27-23 around the midpoint of the stanza, however, Navy executed a 15-0 run within three minutes to surge ahead 38-27 with just over two minutes remaining in the half.
BU trimmed the deficit to six following Gormley’s drive to the hoop, but Almeida’s successful three-pointer from the right corner gave Navy a 41-32 lead at halftime.
A three-pointer from Giannaros and two fouls shots from Bentley enabled BU to narrow it to 43-37 at the 6:45 mark of the third quarter.
BU wrapped up the quarter with an 8-1 surge in the final 4:33, bringing it to 50-47 in favor of the Mids, inspired by an Ericksen three-pointer, a second-chance jumper from Monteagudo, and a layup from McLaughlin on the fast break.
A potential game-tying three from Giannaros missed the mark to open the fourth quarter, leading Navy to exploit BU with an 8-0 run that stretched over four minutes for a 58-48 advantage.
Giannaros responded with five consecutive points from a three-pointer and two free throws, but Navy immediately countered with Barnett-Gay’s three and Almeida’s layup to restore the margin to double digits at 63-53 with 4:05 remaining.
Junior Anete Adler netted two successive baskets near the right block, followed by sophomore Sisi Bentley scoring three consecutive points, completing a 7-0 run for the Terriers which narrowed the gap to 63-60.
Navy secured breathing space with two jump shots from Barnett-Gay and two free throws from Holder, extending the lead to 69-60 with 1:15 left and allowing them to seal the game with foul shots.
STATS
BU surpassed its opponent in field goal percentage for the third time in the last four matches, shooting 44.7 percent against Navy’s 41.3 percent.
The Terriers went 6-for-13 from long range, while Navy was 11-for-32 from beyond the arc.
Navy had the upper hand in rebounding, securing 37 rebounds compared to BU’s 28, including 18 offensive boards.
BU dominated the points in the paint, 28-24, and bench points with a score of 22-7.
The Terriers converted 16 of their 20 free throw attempts.
NOTES
Giannaros achieved her 31st career game scoring 15 or more points.
McLaughlin has now played six games this season scoring in double figures, with her 28 minutes played being her highest in a Patriot League matchup.
Gormley, who enjoyed an impeccable shooting night at 3-for-3 from the field.
BU experienced its first four-game losing streak during Patriot League play since the 2017-18 season.
Students from Trotter Elementary School, Mason Elementary School, Boston Green Academy, Blackstone Elementary, and O’Bryant High School attended the contest as part of the program’s inaugural Boston Public Schools Day.
Navy ended BU’s seven-game winning streak in the rivalry, tying the series at 11-11.
UP NEXT
BU will visit Bucknell on Saturday (Jan. 25). The game is set to start at 2 p.m.