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Sports
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Week of 9 January 1998 |
Vol. I, No. 15 |
Sports
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Women's basketball Terriers looking for first conference winGame Preview by Brian Fitzgerald This season marks the 10th anniversary of the women's basketball Terriers' first conference title. BU was 21-8 in the 1987-88 season, enjoying two crucial winning streaks of five and six games. BU (0-3 conference, 2-8 overall) could certainly use a similar run of victories. A great starting point would be the Terriers' January 10 game against Vermont, a team that is enjoying a success in the 1990s (three conference titles, three NCAA tournament appearances) that is reminiscent of Boston University's accomplishments in the 1980s (two tournament titles). The Catamounts were 17-4 in America East last year, second only to defending champion Maine. Vermont, which is 2-1 in America East and 6-4 overall this season, will be difficult to stop -- especially senior Lori Taylor and sophomore Karalyn Church. Both of them made the 1997 All&endash;America East team. Church is hot: she scored 28 points against Hofstra January 2 and 24 against Drexel two days later. Last year she received a considerable amount of playing time as a freshman and was also named to the All&endash;America East rookie team. But BU has a sensational freshman of its own: Alison Dixon (CAS'01), who was named the conference's rookie of the week after averaging 14 points in two games on January 2 and 4. She led the Terriers with 15 points in their 80-58 loss to Maine and then followed with a team-high 13 points in their loss at New Hampshire. Dixon scored in double figures in 5 of BU's first 10 games. In 1996 she established Norwood (Mass.) High School's school record with 1,316 career points and shattered the single-season records with 497 points and 338 rebounds. The Terriers are also enjoying the return of All-Conference selection Alicia Charles (MET'98), who suffered a season-ending injury to her right knee last year early in BU's schedule. "Alicia Charles is a rare and special individual," says Coach Christine Basile. "She has developed a unique relationship with the coaching staff that is based on mutual respect and admiration, and it filters through her to all members of our roster." In addition, senior cocaptains Ashley Norris (ENG'98) and Kelly Jo Gallagher (CAS'98), along with juniors Cara Millett (SAR'99) and Jamie Nicholls (CAS'99), give the Terriers strength and experience in the guard position. "Ashley Norris and Kelly Jo Gallagher provide us with one of the best three-point shooting tandems in the league, while Cara Millett and Jamie Nicholls thrive in the open court," says Basile. Admission for women's basketball games at BU is free. |
Athletes of the Week
Joey Beard, Walter Brown, and Mike Sylvia
The holiday season didn't begin festively for the men's hoop team, and the men's hockey Terriers rang out the old year with a loss. But 1998 began beautifully for both squads thanks to key performances from several upperclassmen.
Basketball forwards Walter Brown (CAS'99) and Joey Beard (SED'98) scored 22 points and 20 points, respectively, against Eastern Michigan on December 27. However, their output wasn't enough to overcome the Eagles, who defeated BU 72-69 in the first round of the Tribune Classic in Tempe, Ariz. But BU rebounded in the tournament's consolation game, beating LaSalle University, 77-65. Brown pulled down 12 rebounds in that game.
On January 2 Beard scored 20 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds against Maine. Two days later against New Hampshire he netted 12 points -- second to Brown's 20 -- in a 76-61 BU victory. Guard Billy Beal (CAS'99) was also hot during the holidays, scoring 19 against LaSalle and 20 in Maine's visit to Case Gym.
The hockey Terriers, who had 18 days off after a 4-4 tie against New Hampshire December 12, dropped a 3-2 decision to Princeton on December 30. But BU regained its form against Niagara on January 3, plucking the Purple Eagles, 6-2. Forward Mike Sylvia (SMG'98) scored two goals and contributed one assist in BU's 12th victory. The number-one-ranked Terriers have two losses and two ties.
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