Boston College women’s basketball has had an up-and-down season, culminating in a stretch where it dropped four of five to fall two games below .500, prior to the beginning of conference play. The Eagles struggled mightily in the ACC last year, going 2-14, so this final three-game stretch before taking on conference foes is pivotal. BC will have its hands full with New Hampshire, as the Wildcats are the reigning America East regular season conference champions.
Who is BC playing?
University of New Hampshire
When is BC playing?
Sunday, Dec. 17, 3 p.m.
Where is BC playing?
Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
How to Watch:
The game will be broadcasted on ACC Network Extra and live streamed on WatchESPN.
By the Numbers:
BC:
1) The Eagles have been plagued with injuries and inconsistency, as evidenced by the fact that freshman Sydney Lowery is the only player to have started all 10 games this season.
2) BC is coming off its worst 3-point shooting game of the season, a 2-for-22 effort (.091) against Seton Hall.
3) Winning the turnover battle has been a consistent issue for BC, as it ranks near the bottom of the country in turnover margin (-1.50).
UNH:
1) Carlie Pogue won America East Player of the Year last season and will be tough to contain, coming off a 20-point, 10-rebound performance against Manhattan. She’s averaging 16.6 points per game and shooting over 50 percent from the field.
2) The Wildcats don’t shoot the deep ball often, but are above-average at defending it. Their opponents have been held to a .298 mark, making just four per game.
3) UNH ranks within the top-40 in scoring defense, conceding just 56.8 points per game.
Last Meeting:
The Eagles cruised to a 20-point win at home two years ago, winning 71-51 on Dec. 13, 2015. BC was paced by impressive depth, as nine different players scored at least five points. Mariella Fasoula led the way with 11 points, while Katie Quandt had 10 points and six rebounds.
BC wins if…
It shoots well from beyond the arc and gets a balanced effort. The key to beating the Wildcats, then a sub-.500 team, in 2015 was having players up and down the roster chip in. That’s been a lot harder for the Eagles to do this year, so they’ll have to lean on their outside shooting. The loss to Seton Hall was their worst shooting day from two-point range and beyond the arc. Turning that around will be crucial.
BC loses if…
UNH locks down defensively and utilizes its depth. The Wildcats have four scorers averaging double-digits, leaving BC a formidable defensive task, while UNH’s ability to contain shooters could cause the Eagles to struggle. BC doesn’t have the depth to stick with a more balanced team, and if shots aren’t falling, the Wildcats could pull away early.
Featured Image by Celine Lim / Heights Staff
