Boston College women’s basketball has struggled to consistently score the basketball all season. But on Thursday, the Eagles hit a new low. Hosting Maine—a team that was coming off back-to-back losses to top-15 opponents—BC shot a season-worst 29.6 percent from the field and turned the ball over 21 times, dropping its final non-conference game of the year, 61-40.
Right from the get-go, the Black Bears (7-6) jumped out to an early lead, thanks to a trio of Julie Brosseau 3-pointers. Despite quickly falling behind, the Eagles tried desperately to close the gap. BC (5-8) finally got on the board with six points from sophomore Emma Guy, but its scoring spree was short-lived, as it went scoreless for the next five minutes of play.
The Eagles began to find their footing at the start of the second quarter, stringing together a 5-0 run, which cut their deficit to four. However, Maine’s Blanca Millan wasn’t going to let her team’s lead slip away. The sophomore, who recorded her 11th-consecutive double-digit scoring performance this season, ignited an 8-0 run, putting the Black Bears back up 12 points with just over six minutes left in the period.
Although Andie Anastos and Guy eventually snapped BC’s scoring drought, Maine quickly regained control of the game and closed out the half with a couple of baskets. Despite being outscored, 12-7, in the second frame, the Eagles entered the back half of play with a game on their hands, having turned a potential blowout into a nine-point game.
But any lasting hope was soon lost, as BC completely fell apart in the third quarter. The fast-paced Black Bears offense mercilessly outscored the Eagles, 24-6, essentially putting the game out of reach.
While Maine was firing on all cylinders, the Eagles’ offense struggled, to say the least. Anastos and Georgia Pineau were the only BC players that got on the board in the period. In order to fight their way back into the game, the Eagles would have needed a redemptive offensive showing from Milan Bolden-Morris—the team’s leading scorer—but she couldn’t deliver.
The fourth quarter began with yet another Maine run, as the Black Bears scored five-consecutive points before the Eagles could chip away at their now-30-plus point deficit. Millan, who is ranked fourth in the America East in scoring, led the charge, recording the final four of her 18 points. With seven and a half minutes left to go, Maine, up 32 points, boasted its largest lead of the game.
BC finally got back on track with four minutes remaining, as Bolden-Morris penetrated and finished at the rim for a layup, but, in reality, the game was already over. A few more free throws, and the Black Bears closed out their four-game road trip with one of their more convincing wins this season.
The blowout marked Maine’s third win against the Eagles in program history, and its 10th victory over current members of the ACC, all-time.
Historically, BC has had the Black Bears’ number. But on Thursday, Maine dominated every facet of the game, from start to finish.
“There’s no question who the better team was in the gym tonight,” Eagles head coach Erik Johnson said, per BC Athletics. “[The Black Bears] were the tougher team, they played harder, and they were more competitive on both ends.”
Featured Image by Kaitlin Meeks / Heights Staff
