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Boston College Women’s Basketball suffered a tough 62-52 loss against the Louisville Cardinals in a remarkably high-intensity game at Conte Forum. In what would have been a glorified win on Senior Day to celebrate center Akunna Konkwo, the Eagles struggled to beat the strong defense of the Cardinals.
The Eagles entered the game on a five-game losing streak. Ready to make a statement, Head Coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee lined up her starting five with Jojo Lacey, T’yana Todd, Taina Mair, Andrea Daley, and Maria Gakdeng. Both teams came out with a hungry desire to win. First-year guard Taina Mair, proven to be one of the best passers in the ACC, was tasked with carrying the team on her shoulders. She led the team with 20 points and 7 assists. However, Louisville’s high-pressure defense shut Boston College’s offense down. Credit should go to Louisville’s Liz Dixon and Mykasa Robinson, who led the defense with 12 and 9 rebounds respectively. Boston College could not generate many offensive threats. The Cardinals’ game plan was simple. It came down to rebounds, blocks, and boxing out—some basic skills every coach teaches players.
Of course, it did not help that there were countless double teams on star guard Taina Mair. Boston College could not consistently highlight any creativity or quick ball movement, traits that were successful in silencing Louisville to only eight points in the third quarter. Heading into the final quarter with momentum and a narrow lead, Eagles fans held onto hope that a win was in sight. Whenever Mair was connecting passes and allowing her teammates to be in the best positions, players like Jojo Lacey and T’yana Todd came alive. Each of them scored 7 and 8 points, respectively. They became a cohesive unit that was clinical at the three-point lines and dangerous within the paint.
Although the Eagles extended their losing streak to six games, one thing to keep in mind is that this team is young and energetic. They are students of the game with growth mindsets. Combine these qualities with their passionate coaches, and Boston College has the potential to be great. As of right now, it will not be surprising to see the players focus on the basic skills before heading into next week.
Boston College Women’s Basketball (14-16, 4-13 ACC) is scheduled to play their last ACC game this season against Wake Forest (14-12, 5-10, ACC) on Sunday, February 26 at 2 pm ET.
