Boston College
1-0,0-0ACC
UMass Lowell
0-1,0-0America East
New-Look Eagles Shine in Season Opener Versus UMass Lowell
November 07, 2022 | Women's Basketball
Mair Sets Single-Game Freshman Assists Record, Ties Steals Mark
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The new-look Boston College women's basketball team used a second-half outburst to earn an 81-53 triumph over UMass Lowell on Monday evening inside Conte Forum.Â
The Eagles are 1-0 for the fifth straight time - all in the Coach Mac era. UMass Lowell drops to 1-0 on the season.Â
It was a well balanced effort in which four players scored in double figures, and a pair of Eagles setting career highs in their-first career starts. Dontavia Waggoner paced the evening with a game and personal-high of 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting to go along with eight boards and four steals.Â
JoJo Lacey totaled 16 points, hitting six of her 10 attempts and tallied four swipes. Maria Gakdeng turned in 13 points, eight rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals. Rounding out the leading scorers was T'Yana Todd, who in her first start and collegiate contest, chipped in with 11 points on 5-for-8 shooting.Â
Taina Mair couldn't of had a more stellar debut, where she dished out a team-best 13 assists on top of nine points and seven steals.
Boston College took an early 10-2 lead in the first 2:06 of the contest following a Todd layup. The Eagles stayed in front for a 23-16 advantage going into the second period.Â
UMass Lowell didn't go away quietly, making four straight shots to start the second frame for a 26-24 advantage.Â
That was the last lead the visitors held, as the defense forced its counterpart to go on a 1-of-16 stretch that poured into the third period.Â
Boston College put together an impressive 20-0 outburst coming out of the half to stretch what was a seven-point halftime edge to 27. The Eagles cruised the rest of the way to their sixth win in the series.Â
The defense for BC held UMass Lowell to just 22.2 percent shooting in the second half after the Riverhawks shot 50 percent in the first two quarters.Â
BC also dominated the paint by outscoring UMass Lowell, 56-12 and held an impressive 45-24 rebounding advantage, including 17 offensive rebounds. The Eagles turned 27 Riverhawk turnovers into 34 points as well.Â
The Eagles will go for a 2-0 start on Thursday against Harvard at 7 p.m. in Cambridge.Â
Tip-Ins
- Boston College has won five straight home games dating back to last season.
- Mair set the single-game assists record for a freshman with 13, surpassing Aimee McGuire's 11 helpers in 1994-95.Â
- It's also tied for the second-most assists in a single-game in program history and matches the most in a game since 2003.
- Her seven steals ties the freshman single-game mark with Jessalyn Deveny from the 2001-02 season against Pitt. It's also tied for the second-most steals in a game.Â
- Boston College is 10-2 when Maria Gakdeng scores in double figures.
- Boston College is now 41-4 under Coach Mac when holding opponents to 65 points or less and 31-2 when scoring 80 or more points in the same span.Â
