After starting their season going two-for-two against Stonehill College and University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Northeastern women’s basketball team (2-1, 0-0 CAA) traveled to Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, in hopes of breaking a 22-year long series losing streak against in-state rival Boston College. The Eagles have topped the Huskies in all 10 of their matchups dating back to the 2001-02 season — but Northeastern did not succeed and broke its season-opening winning streak in a 58-67 loss.
This matchup had BC favored by 11.5 points, giving Northeastern another game as the underdog. BC entered the game 1-1, after winning against College of the Holy Cross and falling to Harvard University. The Eagles finished 5-13 the previous regular season and were defeated by The University of Miami in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.
Four missed shots for Boston College and five for Northeastern made for a quiet start to the first quarter, with a layup from Eagles junior guard Andrea Daley being the only point scored for the first 2:13. Senior guard Maddie Vizza and junior forward Asha Parker led the Huskies’ scoring in the first quarter, but Northeastern trailed 10-16 after 10 minutes.
By the end of the first half, Northeastern had climbed ahead 28-27 thanks to a last-second jumper by senior guard Derin Erdogan. The Huskies also benefited from seven fouls, leading to six points at the free-throw line, a trend for the team, as it drew 26 fouls in the win against University of Massachusetts Amherst for 24 points.
Northeastern began to slow down in the third quarter, scoring just 10 points compared to BC’s 15. The Huskies still found success from the three-point arc, going two-for-two in the quarter with Vizza and freshman guard Yirsy Quéliz each contributing. The Eagles had pulled ahead 42-38 by the end of the third quarter.
BC’s lead continued to grow throughout the final quarter. Its defense, with five steals, a block and four defensive rebounds, still allowed Northeastern to notch 20 points, but it was not enough. An all-around effort by the Eagles allowed the team to tally 25 points, defeating the Huskies for a final score of 67-58.
Boston College bested Northeastern in nearly every category, but the Huskies dominated the Eagles in three-point percentage. Northeastern shot 9 for 13, 69%, while Boston College went 4-for-21, just 19%. The Huskies also racked up 37 rebounds, slightly better than the 32 from the Eagles.
Northeastern traveled back home on Thursday to face Merrimack College at the Cabot Center, finding its groove again for a 58-47 win over the Warriors.
