Terriers Trounced by Mids in Intense 74-64 Showdown

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.