March 14, 2008

Complete Results

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Senior Kasey Devine poured in a career-high 26 points as the Boston University women's basketball team advanced to the America East semifinals with its 88-59 victory over UMBC on Friday afternoon. BU will face Vermont on Saturday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. on NESN. Boston University's 88 points were the most the program has scored in a post-season conference game. The Terriers improve to 19-11 overall.

Devine shot 13-for-16 from the field, brought down four boards, blocked one shot and earned three steals. Junior Jesyka Burks-Wiley posted 17 points and was joined in double figures by senior Cheri Raffo with 11 and junior Amarachi Umez-Eronini with 10. Junior Christine Kinneary dished out a game-high eight assists, while committing no turnovers and recording two steals. Sophomore Aly Hinton also handed out a career-high seven assists to go along with nine rebounds.

BU shot 61 percent from the field and nailed 10-of-19 3-point attempts. The Terriers held the 32-26 advantage in rebounds. BU also set post-season single-game record for assists (28) and was one field goal shy of tying the record of 35. The Terriers were one assist shy of tying an America East championship record of 29 handouts.

The Terriers jumped out to a commanding 15-5 advantage backed by Devine's eight early points on 4-for-4 shooting. By the 11:12 mark, BU was up 18-8 and was shooting 77 percent from the floor while converting on 10 points off turnovers in the first nine minutes. The defense remained tough, holding UMBC to nine points 11 minutes into the contest and extending its lead to 17 points, 26-9, when Raffo nailed a jumper from just inside the arc at 9:01. During that time, BU forced eight turnovers and earned three steals and one block.

Devine continued to shine on the offensive front scoring the Terriers' next eight points to stretch the lead to 34-15. The Retrievers posted the final six points of the stanza to bring the halftime score to 39-24. Devine led all scorers with 18 points, matching a career high, and UMBC's Carlee Cassidy recorded a team-high 11 points in the first 20 minutes of action. BU was able to penetrate the Retrievers' defense, posting 16 in the paint and converting on 19 off turnovers. The Terriers shot an impressive 66.7 percent from the floor.

The Terriers picked up where they left off in the second half, going on a 12-4 spurt to move the score to 51-28. Devine continued to hit her shots and reached 26 by 11:09, helping push the BU lead to 62-35. UMBC's Chantay Frazier hit a pair of threes and teammate Carlee Cassidy knocked one down from behind the arc to cut the deficit to 20 points, 68-38, with under eight minutes to go; however, Burks-Wiley went on a personal 7-0 run to stretch the lead to 75-50 say 6:35.

BU continued to extend its lead in the final five minutes and senior Corinne Jean scored the Terriers' final basket of the game at 1:34, rounding out the scoring at 88-59.

The Terriers will face second-seeded Vermont on Saturday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. The game will be televised live on NESN.