Instant takeaways from BU women's basketball's 66-55 loss to Lafayette in the Patriot League opener

Turnovers and transition defense plagued the Terriers in their first loss in a conference-opener under Melissa Graves.

Photo by Kaeli Talora/BU Athletics.

The Boston University women’s basketball team struggled in its Patriot League opener, falling 66-55 to Lafayette at Case Gym. 

Here are three takeaways from the loss on Thursday afternoon…

A 22-0 Lafayette run changed the game

The Terriers (6-6) started hot in the conference opener. Senior guard Alex Giannaros scored 11 early points, highlighted by three straight 3s in the opening minutes. BU led 14-8, holding Lafayette scoreless for over five minutes. Two free throws by freshman forward Channing Warren put the Terriers up by six again, 16-10, with 2:09 to play in the first quarter. Then the Lafayette barrage began. 

The Leopards (4-8) scored on their final five possessions of the first quarter, scoring 10 straight points to take a 20-16 lead. 

Lafayette’s run continued well into the second quarter, scoring the frame’s first 12 points to double-up BU, 32-16. The Terriers had plenty of chances to end the run but missed a flurry of point-blank layups. On one key occasion, trailing 22-16, sophomore guard Aoibhe Gormley (who finished with a team-high nine rebounds and four assists) collected a steal by classmate Audrey Ericksen. Gormley raced past everyone and was rewarded with an open fastbreak layup. However, her attempt rolled off the rim. Lafayette senior guard Abby Antognoli grabbed the board and found junior Kay Donahue, who drilled an open 3 in transition. 

On the ensuing possession, Giannaros turned it over and the Leopards made her pay as junior Sauda Ntaconayigize made a fastbreak layup off an Antognoli assist. 

BU finally scored with 6:08 left in the second quarter, when Giannaros drilled a long-range 3 that hit the back rim before dropping through the net. 

BU was plagued by turnovers once again

BU had 15 turnovers, including 10 in the first half. BU opened up a lead early, but could not extend it due to turnovers. And once the Terriers struggled to connect, the turnovers exacerbated the issue, leading to Lafayette’s 22-0 surge. Lafayette also got out in transition off BU’s giveaways. 

Lafayette scored 13 points off turnovers. 

Turnovers have been an issue for BU all season. BU head coach Melissa Graves's goal is for her team to commit 13 or fewer turnovers, which the Terriers did not meet. After 10 first-half turnovers, sophomore guard Bella McLaughlin threw it away on the opening possession after the break. 

The Terriers' transition defense struggled mightily

The Leopards scored 14 fastbreak points in the first half, as BU struggled to get back on defense after turnovers and missed shots. 

Lafayette was unafraid to launch from deep early in the shot clock and the more stops it strung together defensively, the more confident it felt on the offensive end. 

BU was unable to halt that momentum as the Leopards took a lead they would never relinquish.