A New Era for Women's Basketball

by Danny Will

The Boston University Women’s Basketball team is coming off a record season in 2008-2009 both individually and as a team. To name a few, Christine Kinneary set the school record for assists, Kristi Dini set the school mark for career three pointers, and all Jesyka Burks-Wiley and Amarachi Umez-Eronini did was win America East Player of the Year and America East Defensive Player of the Year respectively. The team finished a perfect 16-0 in America East play and made their first postseason appearance since 2003.

A new era begins for the Terriers in the 2009-10 season as their four-headed senior class, which averaged 52.9 points per game between them, has graduated. Other players will have to step up and fill the roles left by Burks-Wiley, Kinneary, Umez-Eronini, and Dini. Luckily for the Terriers, they have the talent on their roster worthy of another postseason birth.

Key Returners:

Aly Hinton, 6’1 Sr.: Hinton is the lone starter returning for the Terriers from last season. She averaged 8.0 ppg and 4.9 rpg and has the versatility to post up her defender as well as step outside and hit the three ball. Her career high in points was 35 back in her sophomore year against Northeastern. Hinton will be the go-to player in the frontcourt for BU and one of the team’s top rebounders.

Alex Young, 5’9 Soph.: Alex was the first guard off the bench for the Terriers last season and provided a spark in many games. She averaged 4.1 ppg last season with her career high 19 points coming in a huge game at Hartford. Young finished second behind Dini last season shooting 38% from long range. She has the dribbling abilities to play the point and the size and strength to play a small forward. Young will be a mismatch for opponents not only in America East, but across the nation.


Maggie McKemie, 6’1 Sr.: Maggie McKemie’s stats from last season wouldn’t wow you, but after watching her play, you come to respect her aggressive tenacity on the court. McKemie provided a lot of energy off the bench last season, her first with the Terriers after transferring from Furman University. She played some of her best basketball near the end of last season and arguably her best game in the Terrier’s loss in the WNIT to Boston College with 7 points, 4 steals and a block. The team expects that energy and impressive end to her season to turn into strong statistics this year.


Kat Briggs, 5’8 Jr.: After talking with Coach Greenberg, she said the thing she is worried about the most going into the year is turnovers. She also said that three players may see time at the point guard position this season replacing Kinneary. The first to get that chance will be the junior Briggs. Briggs was the backup point guard last year but because Kinneary rarely came out of the game, she only averaged 9.1 minutes per game. Briggs is a solid passer and a threat on the perimeter to shoot. If she can establish herself as the starting point guard, the Terriers will have a balanced attack on offense.

Impact Freshmen:

Chantell Alford, 5’10: Alford seems to have locked up a spot in the starting lineup to start the year. Her size and versatility make her tough to guard as she will most likely play the 3 position. Her inside/outside ability could make Alford one of the conferences top freshman.

Caitlynn Moran, 5’7: Caitlynn is one of the possible options Coach Greenberg has to play point guard. Even if doesn’t start, Moran will see some quality minutes off the bench. She has a sweet shooting stroke that could make her an option much like Young was for last year’s team.

The Terriers were picked in a tie for 4th with New Hampshire in the America East Preseason polls. Coach Greenberg was not surprised by this prediction and is excited to see how her new team will mesh. Boston University was predicted to finish 3rd in the preseason last year and went undefeated in the conference regular season. Who is to say that they can’t achieve surprise the conference this time around?