July 7, 2011

BOSTON - Coming in at No. 12 in The Terrier Twelve is the Boston University women's basketball team's 2010-11 campaign, which included sophomore Chantell Alford earning the America East Player of the Year award and the Terriers hosting the conference's championship game for the first time since 1990.

After a tough schedule that boasted match-ups against four teams who broke into the top-25, the women's basketball team earned its fourth straight winning season, finishing out the year 17-14 overall and 12-4 in league play. Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed, the Terriers defeated Vermont and Binghamton en route to their 11th appearance in the championship game. In front of a boisterous crowd, the squad put up a valiant effort but suffered a heartbreaking loss to Hartford.

Throughout the year, a number of different Terriers had shining moments, including sophomore standout Chantell Alford. She led the team in scoring (15.0 ppg) and added a new element to her game in the postseason, becoming the team's primary ball handler. Completing her second season in the scarlet and white, she is on pace to become one of the most prolific scorers in program history.

Named the 2011 AE Player of the Year, Alford became the second Terrier in program history to earn the hardware and just the sixth sophomore ever in the league to collect the award. The 5-8 guard also received America East All-Conference First Team honors as well as All-Defensive Team accolades. Additionally, she was just the third player in league history to earn rookie of the year honors as a freshman and player of the year accolades the following season.

Three of her other teammates were recognized for helping guide BU to the title game. Sophomore Mo Moran was named to the All-Conference Second Team, while senior Kerry Cashman and junior Alex Young earned third-team honors. Freshman Rashidat Agboola was selected to the All-Rookie Team, and Cashman was also voted the AE Fans' Choice Player of the Year.

Young made the season even more memorable when she dropped a career-high 37 points on Binghamton in the America East semifinals for the 59-44 victory. In one of the finest single-game performances in program history, she tied Julie Schmidt ('95) for the third highest single-game scoring output. The 5-9 guard was a stifling 14-of-21 (.667), including 7-of-9 (.778) from beyond the arc.

Despite the graduation of the team's leading rebounder in Cashman along with Kat Briggs and Krystyn McIntyre, the future looks bright for the Terriers as they return four of five starters and 11 letter winners.