CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College women’s basketball fell to Louisville in the ACC opener, 86-73, Sunday afternoon at the Conte Forum.
The Eagles fall to 10-5 and 1-1 in ACC play, while the Cardinals improve to 8-5 and 1-1 in league play.
Teya Sidberry (Salt Lake City, Utah/Salt Lake) had it on offense, scoring a career-high 24 points on 8-for-12 shooting with six rebounds and a pair of steals. Dontavia Waggoner (Nashville, Tenn./Ensworth) had a season-high 18 points on six field goals. while the duo of Sidberry and Waggoner scored 41 points on 14-of-23 shooting. T’yana Todd (Ontario, Vaughan, Canada/IMG Academy) rounded out the leading scorers with 12 points.
Facing a 12-point deficit at the end of the first half, BC put together a 22-8 run in the third quarter to take a 46-44 lead after a Todd trifecta. The Eagles hit seven straight field goals during the surge.
Louisville responded with a 15-4 run to take a nine-point lead. The Eagles cut the gap to six on the next possession, but the visitors entered the fourth up 64-55.
The Eagles, on multiple offensive drives, cut the gap to six in the final period. However, the Cardinals stayed in front to pull away for the win.
Neither team led by more than five in the first period. After Savannah Samuel (Woodstock, Ga./West Virginia) got two at the charity stripe, the Cardinals scored seven straight to claim a 23-18 lead late in the first frame.
Louisville started the second period making five of its first six shots to take a 12-point lead before BC’s comeback.
BC shot 48.1 percent from the field and 81.8 percent from the line, but committed 23 turnovers and allowed 20 offensive rebounds. Louisville held a 24-11 advantage in second-chance points.
The Eagles return to action Thursday to take on a top-ranked Duke team at 7 p.m. inside the Conte Forum.
Tip-Ins
The 24 points are the most scored by an Eagle this season.
Four of Sidberry’s eight games with 20 or more points have come in ACC play.
Andrea Daley led the team with five assists – the second game in a row with five or more helpers.