Boston College Athletics
Women's Basketball Opens Season with a Victory
June 21, 1999 | Women's Basketball
November 16, 1998
Boston College opened the 1998-99 season with a 72-66 victory over the University of Massachusetts on November 16, at Conte Forum. Four players scored in double figures to lead the Eagles to victory. Cal Bouchard was the team's leading scorer with 17 points, including four three-point field goals, and seven rebounds. Senior center Whitney Steele and Alissa Murphy each netted 15 points for the Eagles, and sophomore guard Danielle O'Banion provided a spark off the bench scoring 10 points. Freshman Brianne Stepherson started at point guard for Boston College and finished with nine points and two assists. The Minutewomen were led by Tez Kraft and Kelly Van Huisen's 18 point-efforts.
The Eagles had a six-point lead in the final minute of the first half, but Van Huisen's three-point field goal in the closing seconds narrowed the score to 33-30 at halftime. Massachusetts opened the second half with a 9-2 run, and the Minutewomen extended their lead to seven points with 13 minutes remaining in the game. Boston College rallied and Murphy's three-point field goal gave the Eagles a 51-49 lead with 8:56 left. Massachusetts narrowed the Eagles' five point lead to 69-66, but Boston College connected on three-of-four free throws in the final 12 seconds to secure the Boston College win. Boston College is 17-10 in season openers (home openers: 12-5 ; away openers: 5-3; neutral openers: 0-2). The Eagle's last season-opening defeat was at the Reebok Classic on November 24, 1996, when the Eagles lost to Connecticut, 76-38, at the FleetCenter.
