In the first seven games of the 2023–24 Boston College women’s basketball season, the Eagles were unable to break the 80-point threshold, and held a record of just 3–4.
In its four most recent games, though, the Eagles have exceeded that threshold, and on Sunday afternoon, BC notched its third-straight win to go above .500 for the first time since Nov. 19.
The Eagles (6–5) dominated Siena (3–4) 88–59 behind strong rebounding and second-chance baskets. Siena struggled against BC’s fast pace and committed 19 personal fouls. The win also marked BC’s third straight win by a margin of 29 points or better.
The game featured a standout performance from sophomore Kayla Lezama, who notched 13 points, two rebounds, and two steals in BC’s win.
“Really just coming out with energy from the start,” Lezama said. “It was kinda a little slow, especially the rebounding. Coach Mac really pushed us to make sure we’re getting the o-boards, getting the d-boards, and all that stuff.”
It was an aggressive and high-paced start, with neither team jumping out to an early lead in the opening minutes of play.
BC started out aggressively on the boards and found success scoring in the paint. BC outrebounded the Saints 40–31 in the contest.
“Rebounding is a lot about energy and effort so we just had to make sure we came up with a lot of effort,” Lezama said.
Alden Yergey nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game 7–7 for the Saints, but the Eagles quickly responded. Dontavia Waggoner potted a driving layup after snatching an offensive rebound following a missed JoJo Lacey 3-pointer.
The Eagles maintained this momentum and went on a dominant 8–2 run, which gave them a 17–9 cushion with 2:43 remaining in the first.
Just 16 seconds later Lezama hit a three to extend the Eagles’ lead to nine. BC entered the second quarter with an 11-point advantage.
Siena opened the scoring in the second quarter with a Yergey jumper, and Teresa Seppala quickly cut the score to seven points.
Waggoner stopped the bleeding when she tallied an and-1 and sunk the extra point. The Eagles continued to struggle in the second, though, as they lost control of the paint and failed to secure rebounds. BC hauled in just nine rebounds in the second, compared to its 19 in the first quarter.
With 4:11 left in the half, Kaylah Ivey drained a 3-pointer to extend the Eagles’ lead to 13. The Eagles let up six unanswered points in the final three minutes of the half, however, and went into the third quarter up 34–27.
BC adjusted to start the second half, though, and T’yana Todd opened the scoring via free throws. Waggoner then scored a layup off an offensive rebound and Teya Sidberry followed it up with a layup of her own to reestablish the 13-point lead.
Siena hit a 3-pointer to cut the BC lead back down to 10, but Waggoner responded with yet another layup.
At the 4:14 mark, the Eagles seemed to have settled into a groove. Behind strong full-court play and quick transitions, they led 48–35.
Ivey then hit her second three of the game and followed it up with an assist to Sidberry which made the lead 16 with 2:56 remaining. Sidberry led the Eagles’ offense with 20 points.
“I think these girls make me better and make me want to run harder and push harder,” Sidberry said. “It is a really fast team so you have to run transitions harder. It’s definitely made me play at a higher level.”
The third quarter ended with the Eagles up 59–43, and BC continued its dominance in the fourth quarter.
A Daley score at the 4:39 mark followed by a converted and-1 by her gave BC a 21-point lead. Waggoner then followed up with a steal-and-score to make it a 23-point advantage.
The Eagles brought on bench players as the game progressed, and racked up eight points in the closing minutes as BC closed out its 88–59 win.
“From my standpoint as a coach, experience is everything,” BC head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee said. “If these younger players and these newer players start to get experience, that’s just gonna build our future and also build what we have this year. It just makes our chemistry a lot better.”
