CHESTNUT HILL − The Boston College women’s basketball team’s immediate priority is to close the regional phase of its schedule with 10 wins before the ACC campaign gets underway.
BC improved to 9-3 overall and 7-0 at home with a 94-46 victory over the Bryant Bulldogs (7-4) in the opener of a women’s and men’s matinee twin bill on Sunday at Conte Forum.
The Eagles opened the close out phase on their non-league agenda with a hard fought 62-57 home win over UMass in which head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee secured her 100thcareer victory at The Heights.
BC can reach double digits in the win column when the Eagles’ host Central Connecticut on Dec. 20. BC will play its ACC home opener against Louisville on Dec. 28 followed by No. 9 Duke on Jan. 2.
“I think that (10 wins) is definitely needed headed into ACC play,” said guard Savanah Samuel, a senior transfer from Oregon State. “We have really been focusing on doing the little things to really get ready for ACC play.
“We are about to face pretty big competition. We need to work on the things we need to work on so when we play those games, we can work on the things we need to do to beat those teams in the ACC.”
BC shot 48.6% from the floor with 10 made 3-point shots, 42 rebounds, 23 assists and 36 forced turnovers. BC finished with 12 players with two or more points and one or more rebounds. Taya Sidberry scored 14 points followed by Samuel (13), Dontavia Waggoner (12) and T’yana Todd (11). Guard Mai Mancini paced the Bulldogs with 13 points.
“I think what is most important was getting everybody to showcase their skills in games like this where everybody scores and just getting that team chemistry from everybody on the court.,” said Bernabei-McNamee.
“They all have a certain skill level and then it is all about how aggressive and doing the little things. In today’s game, everybody took care of what they could within themselves and that always makes a coach happy.
“I loved their hustle and rebounding was definitely a priority in this game and they too care of the ball. We are going to continue to work on taking care of the ball.”
BC opened the contest with an 8-2 run employing a transition offense and a smothering full court pressure defense. Sidberry got the machine rolling with a 3-ball from the left of the key and a baseline layup.
The Eagles scored seven unanswered points after the first media timeout with four coming off turnovers in the Bryant end. The onslaught rolled on unabated. Andrea Daley completed a 3-point play with 1.9 seconds remaining to give BC a 24-4 lead after one.
“The (defense) kind of energized me and all my teammates were communicating,” said Sidberry, a junior transfer from Utah.
Bernabei-McNamee made liberal substitutions and employed multiple combinations throughout the second quarter. Bryant regrouped with 16 points in the second quarter but trailed 51-20 at the intermission.
BC had 10 players with two or more points and one rebound on the scoresheet led by Dodd with 11. The Eagles had 14 assists and forced 22 turnover after 20 minutes.
“When you combine our length and speed and playing very aggressive, hopefully that gives us confidence heading into ACC play,” said Bernabei-McNamee. “You want that carryover and I just thought they were pretty relentless the way they pursued that press.
“We put in a little tweak in it today and I thought they worked it really well for having only worked on it for one day. We are long so when they get up and get up big, our defense can look intimidating when we get big.”
