University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
4-2
Boston University
3-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 33 | 34 | 67 |
| Boston University | 28 | 27 | 55 |
Gaston's Double-Double Leads Women's Basketball Past Boston U., 67-55
12/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BOSTON -- Ariel Gaston (Toledo, Ohio) recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds to propel the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team to Wednesday evening's 67-55 non-conference victory against Boston University at Case Gymnasium.
UNH, which had lost 13 straight in the series to BU dating back to a February 2007 home win, improved to 4-2. Boston University is now 3-4.
Gaston scored 10 of her 16 points in the second half, including four during the Wildcats' 8-0 run in the closing minutes to secure the win. Overall, Gaston was an efficient 6 of 10 from the floor and also had three assists with no turnovers.
Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) scored a team-high 23 points, including 13 in the first half when UNH built a double-digit lead, and pulled down seven rebounds. Kaylee Kilpatrick (Saint John, New Brunswick) finished with nine points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Aliza Simpson (Londonderry, N.H.) chipped in with eight points, two rebounds, three assists and three steals.
UNH made 26 of 63 field goal attempts (41.3%) and that included 6-for-15 (40.9%) from 3-point range.
BU, limited to 37.0% shooting from the floor (20 of 54) with just one 3-pointer on 16 attempts (6.3%), was led offensively by Meghan Green (18 points) and Mollie McKendrick (17 points, 10 rebounds).
Kilpatrick dominated the blocks early and scored all seven of her first-half points in the opening four minutes to help the Wildcats take a 9-8 lead. UNH went on a 10-0 run the next three minutes to extend the lead to double digits, 19-8, with 13 minutes on the clock. Back-to-back Stephanie Spoto (Pittsford, N.Y.) baskets in the paint were surrounded by 3-pointers by Simpson and Belanger.
BU trimmed the deficit to single figures, 24-15, on Green's hoop at 9:46, but the 'Cats responded with six consecutive points to build its largest lead of the half, 30-15, with 6:00 remaining in the first frame. Belanger hit a couple of runners off the glass and Gaston went coast-to-coast off a steal during the UNH spurt.
The Terriers' 7-0 run cut the margin to 30-22 at 4:44 and prompted New Hampshire to call a 30-second timeout. The teams traded scores the rest of the way and the 'Cats took a 33-28 lead into halftime.
Green opened the second-half scoring with a pair of foul shots to lift Boston University within three points, 33-30. It marked the smallest differential since the 'Cats led 12-8 five minutes into the game.
Gaston scored on a layup at the other end of the court to fuel a 7-0 spurt capped by Simpson's second 3-pointer of the game to reestablish a double-digit lead of 40-30 at 15:46.
BU responded with seven consecutive points the next three minutes to once again close within three points, 50-47. The Terriers would get no closer the rest of the way, however.
Belanger immediately answered with a drive down the lane and completed the three-point play. Green answered with a layup, but Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) drilled a 3-pointer from the top-left side and Belanger followed with a 3-ball from the right corner to quickly extend the margin to 49-39 at 10:47.
McKendrick's jumper and Green's two foul shots lifted BU within 49-43 midway through the second half. Once again, UNH built a double-digit margin as Gaston drove the left baseline for a layup on consecutive possessions.
The Terriers called time out at 8:33, but Sarah-Marie Frankenberger (Gross Gerau, Germany) connected on a jumper from the left baseline to push the advantage to 55-43.
The teams exchanged points to advance the score to 59-51 with 2:58 remaining. Belanger made a floater running down the lane, and then at the other end of the court she and Kilpatrick recorded blocks to preserve the 10-point cushion.
BU quickly committed three fouls to send Gaston to the foul line, and she made both ends of the 1-and-1 to make it 63-51 with 1:40 to play. Following a BU missed 3-pointer, Gaston drove the right side for a layup and 14-point lead at 1:10. She didn't convert the three-point play, but Kilpatrick snared the rebound and scored on a putback to seal the win.
New Hampshire returns to action Sunday, Dec. 7 against Daniel Webster. Game time at Lundholm Gym is 1 p.m.
