BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Junior Caitlin Weimar notched a 24-point, 15-rebound double-double, four other Terriers scored in double figures, and the Boston University women's basketball program won its 17th-straight game with a 78-65 triumph over Lehigh on Saturday evening at Stabler Arena.
 
After leading by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, BU (22-6, 17-0 PL) saw its lead evaporate in the third thanks to a 20-4 extended run from the Mountain Hawks (15-13, 11-6 PL). However, BU closed the stanza on a 22-4 burst to regain the lead for good.
 
With the win, BU has set a program record with 17 conference wins on the season, eclipsing the 2008-09 squad's 16 victories. The Terriers also collect their third season sweep of Lehigh ever, and first since 2018-19.
 
In addition to her 14th double-double of the year, Weimar added a game-high four blocks. Senior Sydney Johnson collected 12 points, while classmate Maggie Pina, sophomore Alex Giannaros, and freshman Sam Crispe each tallied 11 points. Junior Sophie Beneventine dished out a career-high seven assists.
 
Frannie Hottinger posted 24 points and 11 boards for her own double-double to pace the Mountain Hawks. Mackenzie Kramer and Anna Harvey registered 15 and 11 points, respectively.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Giannaros and Johnson each canned threes on opposite wings in the opening 2:35 to put BU ahead 8-2.
• Lehigh called time with 5:09 on the clock after Johnson pulled up for a left-elbow jumper that made it 14-6 Terriers.
• After the lead was cut to five, Crispe spun past Hottinger for a floating layup, then Johnson hit one from the foul line to help BU claim a 20-13 edge after 10 minutes.
• BU scored the first six points in the second. Sophomore Lauren Davenport made two baskets, including a eurostep in transition as the clock read 7:24 for a 26-13 Terrier edge.
• Weimar snagged an offensive rebound and put the ball in to give the Terriers their largest lead of the first half, 36-22, with 3:47 until halftime.
• The Mountain Hawks rattled off 10-consecutive points from that point, however, capped off with Kramer's old-fashioned three-point play.
• Lehigh had a chance to cut it to one possession in the final seconds, but senior Maggie Pina coaxed a turnover and finished the right-handed layup just before the buzzer to put BU on top 38-32 at the break.
• The Mountain Hawks started the third on an 8-0 burst, taking a 40-38 lead on Lily Fandre's right-corner triple with 7:12 remaining in the frame.
• In the rest of the stanza, however, the Terriers outscored Lehigh 22-4. In the middle of that stretch was a 14-0 spurt where Weimar dropped eight points, and Pina added four, including a layup that split two defenders and a baseline floater near the right block.
• Pina and Crispe ended the third with straightaway threes for a 60-44 Terrier advantage.
• BU ignited the fourth quarter with an 8-2, where Johnson and Giannaros again delivered three-pointers, the latter pushing the lead to 68-46 with 6:45 left.
• Despite draining five triples in the final 4:32, Lehigh got as close as 11 points in the final moments. Crispe added two layups, and freshman Anastasiia Semenova iced the scoring on a layup off Beneventine's pass.

 
STATS

• The Terriers shot over 53 percent from the field in the game, including a 7-for-13 (.538) clip from downtown.
• Lehigh made just under 38 percent of its shots. Prior to a 5-for-9 fourth quarter from beyond the arc, the Mountain Hawks were 5-for-22 (.227) from downtown.
• BU recorded 17 assists on 31 made baskets.
• In the rebounding department, the Terriers prevailed, 35-34.
• BU had just 10 turnovers, and turned 13 Lehigh turnovers into 15 points.
• The Terriers sported a 42-24 edge in point paints.
• Lehigh led in the game for just 15 seconds.

 
GAME NOTES

• BU went undefeated in the month of February for the second time in program history, and first time since 2009.
• The Terriers are the third team in Patriot League history to reach 17 conference wins, joining the 2015-16 Army West Point and Bucknell teams.
• In her last three games, Weimar is averaging 25.7 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 68.1 percent from the field.
• Her .632 field goal percentage during league action paces her Patriot League counterparts. She ranks third and fourth with 17.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, respectively.
• Johnson has averaged 18.6 points in her last five contests against Lehigh, dating back to her sophomore campaign.
• The senior also moved into 13th place on BU's all-time scoring list, and is now tied with former teammate Katie Nelson '21 for 10th place with 315 career assists.
• Pina has reached double figures in five of her last seven games, averaging 11.9 points per matchup in that span.
• Giannaros, after making three of her five three-point attempts, is shooting 55.4 percent from distance on the season.
• Crispe shot 5-for-8 to set a season-best in buckets made. Saturday was her fifth game in double digits.
• The Terriers have knotted the all-time series against Lehigh, 11-11.

 
UP NEXT

• BU caps the regular season with a trek to Holy Cross in a Turnpike trophy matchup on Wednesday (Mar. 1). Opening tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.