#3 seed Boston University (16-14) became the first school ever to defeat the top two seeds en route to a conference championship, capturing the 2003 Friendship Cottage Cheese America East Championship on Saturday with a 69-65 victory over #1 seed University of Maine (25-5) Saturday at The Chase Family Arena on the University of Hartford campus. The Terriers had defeated #2 seed University of Vermont 68-57 in the semifinals. The title is Boston University's first since 1989 and the third in the school's history.
The Terriers opened up their largest lead of the game just 43 seconds into the second half, taking a 36-22 lead on a jumper by junior guard Katie Terhune. The Black Bears used 17 offensive rebounds in the second half to gradually chip away at the lead, getting within 60-57 on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Missy Traversi with 2:43 remaining. However, Boston University standout freshman Katie Meinhardt, the conference's Rookie of the Year, answered with a three-pointer less than a minute later, and the Terriers converted six free throws in the final 53 seconds to seal the win.
Boston University's strong three-point shooting continued for a second straight game, as the Terriers nailed 5-of-8 three-pointers. In the final two games of the championship, Boston University's sharp-shooters made a sizzling 14-of-21 (67%) shots from long range. The Terriers put five players in double figures, led by Terhune with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists. Meinhardt made 4-of-6 shots from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line, scoring 12 of her 14 points in the decisive second half. Meinhardt scored 37 points in the three tournament games, with all but six coming after intermission. Sophomore forward Adrienne Norris collected 11 points and seven rebounds, while senior guard Alison Argentieri and sophomore forward Larissa Parr each chipped in 10 points.
Maine, which entered the game with the nation's fourth-longest winning streak (21 games), tied a championship game record with 50 rebounds (25 offensive rebounds). Sophomore forward Monica Peterson set a new championship game record with 17 rebounds (nine offensive) and also had eight points. The previous record for rebounds in a championship game was held by Carla Singleton of Northeastern University, who collected 16 against Boston University on March 2, 1986. America East Player of the Year Heather Ernest led two Black Bears in double figures with a game-high 23 points and 16 rebounds. Junior guard Melissa Heon added 15 points while playing 39 minutes. Maine was held to 32 percent shooting, its lowest output since the third game of the season.
Boston University jumped out to a 14-2 lead in the first 6:38 of the game, then watched Maine get to within two points (16-14) over the next five minutes. However, for the second straight day, the Terriers closed the frist half with a big run, outscoring the Black Bears 18-6 in the final 8:42. Terhune had 11 points during the run.
Terhune was named the championship's Most Outstanding Player. Joining her on the all-championship team were Larissa Parr and Alison Argentieri of Boston University, Heather Ernest of University of Maine, and Maren Matthias of University of New Hampshire.
BOX SCORE FROM 3/15/03 4 p.m.
#3 Boston University vs #1 Maine
OFFICIAL BASKETBALL BOX SCORE -- G A M E T O T A L S
#3 Boston University vs #1 Maine
3/15/03 4 p.m. at Chase Family Arena (West Hartford, CT)
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VISITORS: #3 Boston University 16-14, 10-6 AE
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
No. N A M E FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
10 Argentieri, Alison * 2-3 2-3 4-4 0 0 0 3 10 1 0 0 2 35
12 Moseley, Marisa * 3-9 0-0 0-0 1 6 7 4 6 2 2 3 2 26
15 Terhune, Katie * 7-14 2-3 2-6 2 4 6 4 18 4 1 0 1 32
32 Norris, Adrienne * 3-6 0-0 5-7 1 6 7 4 11 0 2 2 2 35
42 Parr, Larissa * 5-12 0-1 0-2 2 2 4 5 10 3 2 0 0 33
11 Lopez, Amparo 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+
13 Meinhardt, Katie 4-6 1-1 5-6 0 1 1 0 14 1 2 0 0 24
22 Vanderwal, Rachael 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 8
54 Werner, Rachel 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 7
TEAM ........................................ 2 2 4 2
TOTALS 24-52 5-8 16-25 9 23 32 22 69 12 12 6 8 200
TOT-FG 1stH: 15-31 48.4% 2ndH: 9-21 42.9% OT: 0-0 00.0% Game: 46.2% Deadbl
3pt-FG 1stH: 3-5 60.0% 2ndH: 2-3 66.7% OT: 0-0 00.0% Game: 62.5% Rebs
FThrow 1stH: 1-4 25.0% 2ndH: 15-21 71.4% OT: 0-0 00.0% Game: 64.0% 3
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HOME TEAM: #1 Maine 25-5, 16-0 AE
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
No. N A M E FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
01 Heon, Melissa * 5-16 1-8 4-5 1 3 4 5 15 1 1 0 3 39
11 Ernest, Heather * 7-17 0-0 9-13 6 10 16 4 23 4 4 0 0 35
15 Jay, Nicole * 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
22 Corbitt, Kim * 2-3 0-0 0-0 2 1 3 3 4 3 2 0 1 33
23 Veilleux, Julie * 2-7 0-3 2-2 2 1 3 3 6 3 4 1 1 28
05 Traversi, Missy 3-8 3-5 0-0 0 0 0 3 9 2 2 0 0 20
30 Geraghty, Ellen 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+
54 Peterson, Monica 2-11 0-0 4-5 9 8 17 3 8 1 2 2 0 38
55 Schrader, Abby 0-3 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 5
TEAM ........................................ 5 1 6
TOTALS 21-66 4-16 19-25 25 25 50 23 65 14 16 3 5 200
TOT-FG 1stH: 8-29 27.6% 2ndH: 13-37 35.1% OT: 0-0 00.0% Game: 31.8% Deadbl
3pt-FG 1stH: 0-7 00.0% 2ndH: 4-9 44.4% OT: 0-0 00.0% Game: 25.0% Rebs
FThrow 1stH: 4-7 57.1% 2ndH: 15-18 83.3% OT: 0-0 00.0% Game: 76.0% 3
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OFFICIALS: Angie Lewis, Bonita Spence, Kathy Lynch
TECHNICAL FOULS:
#3 Boston University - none
#1 Maine - none
ATTENDANCE: 989
SCORE BY PERIODS: 1st 2nd OT1 OT2 OT3 OT4 TOTAL
#3 Boston University 34 35 69
#1 Maine 20 45 65
2003 Friendship Cottage Cheese America East Championship
Championship game