After 13-point First Half, Women's Basketball Drops Game At Maryland

The Boston College women's basketball team dropped its ninth consecutive game in an 86-44 loss at No. 9 Maryland last Thursday night. The Eagles (5-17, 0-9) are now on their longest losing streak since the 1994-95 season, when the team underwent a 10-game losing skid.

Maryland, who entered the game on a two-game skid of their own, came out firing, going into the half leading 51-13. While Eagles hung tough in the second, the vast score differential proved too difficult to overcome.

Early on, the Eagles were able to cut the Maryland lead to just three on consecutive three-point shots from Tiffany Ruffin and Kat Cooper. However, Maryland then went on a devastating 38-3 tear.

BC outscored the ninth-ranked Terps 20-7 in the first eight minutes of the second half, cutting the lead to 58-33. The vastly more experienced Terps, however, managed to pull away. The 25-point deficit would be the closest the Eagles would get.

Terps forward Alicia Thomas, who had been out in Maryland's upset loss to Virginia Tech on Jan. 26, scored 14 points and pulled down eight boards in her return. Guard Lauren Mincy also recorded 16 points and three assists in 24 minutes.

As a team, the Terps shot the ball incredibly well. They converted on 47 percent of their field goal attempts. The team also sunk 10 of their 18 three-point attempts, eight of those coming in the first half.

BC, however, continued its struggles, shooting a modest 21.1 percent from the field. The Eagles converted on just four-of-31 field goals in the first half.

Joy Caracciolo led the Eagles with 10 points in 17 minutes. Katie Zenevitch flirted with a double-double, putting up eight points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds.

Despite the loss, head coach Sylvia Crawley emphasized the positives. Specifically, that the fight and effort BC displayed in the second half against one of the nation's top teams will provide many lessons heading forward.

The Eagles will look to pick up their first ACC victory Feb. 9 when they head to Durham, NC to play No. 6 Duke (18-3, 9-0).