Boston College Athletics
Boston College
Harvard
Eagles Open 2021-22 Season With Harvard
November 08, 2021 | Women's Basketball
Follow the Eagles: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
About the Eagles
Boston College returns all five starters from last season and 100 percent of its numbers across the board, including its three leading returning scorers from last season. Taylor Soule (15.7 ppg), Cameron Swartz (13.4 ppg), and Makayla Dickens (12.6 ppg) combined to score 41.7 points per game. MarnelleGarraud and Clara Ford are back as well. Garraud earned All-ACC Defensive Team honors last season after leading the team and the conference in steals per game (2.1 spg). The senior guard averaged 7.3 points per game while also leading the team in assists (3.1) and blocks with seven. Ford started in a career-high 17 games, averaging career highs in scoring (5.0 ppg) and rebounding (5.6 rpg).
A Boston College Win Would
- Move the Eagles' record to 4-0 in season openers under Bernabei-McNamee.
- Improve to 10-8 in the all-time series and 6-4 at home against Harvard.
- Start the season 1-0.
Chasing Milestones
Soule is well on her way to becoming the 29th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point club, as she is seven points away from the accomplishment. She is also nine rebounds away from becoming the 11th player to join the 500-rebound list. In addition, Dickens is nearing the 1,000-point milestone as well, where she is 72 points away from joining the club.
What to Watch for
- Boston College was 5-1 last season when it shot at least 20 foul shots. Watch if the Eagles can get to the line on Tuesday.
- In 10 home games last season, Soule averaged 17.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Watch if the senior forward can continue her home success.
- When forcing at least 20 turnovers last season, the Eagles were 5-2. Watch if the defense can force Harvard into mistakes.
- BC was 6-0 when allowing under 65 points last season. Watch if the defense can contain the Harvard offense.
- The Eagles were third in the ACC in 3-point field goal percentage defense last season, limiting opponents to shoot just 29.1 percent from beyond the arc. See if the Eagles can stop Harvard's 3-point attack.
Three's Company
Soule, Swartz, and Dickens return as one of the most dangerous trios in the conference, combining for 41.7 points per game last season. They are tied with Elissa Cunane, Jakia Brown-Turner, and Kayla Jones for the second-highest returning scoring trio. Elizabeth Kitley, Aisha Sheppard, and Georgia Aramore of Virginia Tech return after averaging 47.7 points.
Scouting Harvard
- Harvard's season was canceled in 2020-21 as the Ivy League canceled the season due to COVID-19.
- Kathy Delaney-Smith leads the Crimson program, as she is coming up on her 40th season on the sidelines.
- Delaney-Smith will retire at the end of the season, while she boasts over 600 wins overall, 11 Ivy League titles, and 14 postseason appearances.
- Harvard boasts a roster that features two seniors, six juniors, four sophomores, and five first-year players.
- The leading returning scorer from the 2019-20 season is sophomore Lola Mullaney. The 5'11 guard averaged a team-high 14.7 points, with over half of her field goals coming from beyond the arc.
- Maggie McCarthy is back as the leading rebounder after pulling down 5.6 per game.
- Harvard returns three of its four leading 3-point shooters from two seasons ago.
Series History
- Tuesday's matchup is the first time since the two foes squared off during the 2010-2011 season. BC won the meeting in a tight-knit affair, 80-78, at home.
- BC is 9-8 in the all-time series and 5-4 at home.
What's Next
The Eagles will face Holy Cross on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the second of back-to-back home contests.
