BOSTON - Sophomore Alex Giannaros drained six three-pointers for 18 points, senior Maren Durant posted a 12-point, 15-rebound double-double, and the top-seeded Boston University women's basketball program utilized a 25-5, second-half run to defeat ninth--ranked Loyola Maryland 66-52 on Monday evening at Case Gym.

BU (23-7) nursed just a one-point halftime lead, and trailed by six early in the third quarter. However, the Terriers flipped the script with an 18-2 extended run that turned a 34-28 Greyhound (10-21) advantage into a 52-36 BU lead. The Terriers would lead by as many as 20 points throughout the game, advancing to its fourth-straight Patriot League semifinal round.

Giannaros' six triples were a career-high, as she shot 50 percent from distance. In addition to her double-double, Durant rejected a career-best six shots. Senior Sydney Johnson (11 points, eight assists) and sophomore Lauren Davenport (14 points, 4-for-7 from deep) also reached double figures.

Devyne Newman and Taleah Dixon each scored 11 points to pace Loyola, with all 11 of Dixon's points coming in the first half. Second Team All-Patriot League selection Lex Therien was limited to eight points and 11 caroms.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• BU missed its first four three-pointers before Davenport nailed one 3:05 into the game.
• Giannaros canned her own triple to knot the game at 8-8, but Newman and Bri Rozzi each nailed jumpers to boost Loyola's edge to 12-8.
• Dixon buried a three, but Johnson answered with her own triple before the first quarter ended, pulling BU within 15-13 after 10 minutes.
• In the second, Davenport drained all three of the Terriers' three-pointers, with her last one putting the home team ahead 25-22 with 3:48 remaining until halftime.
• BU took a three-point lead when Durant accelerated downhill for a right-handed hook shot, but Dixon drilled a stepback jumper by the free throw line to cut the Terrier advantage to 27-26, which served as the halftime score.
• That bucket ignited an extended 10-1 run that bled into the third quarter. Kelly Ratigan's three-pointer gave Loyola its largest lead of the game, 34-28, nearly three minutes out of the break.
• However, Giannaros deposited three triples in a row – one from the right corner and two from the left wing, to hand BU a 37-34 lead.
• The sophomore hit another following a Johnson free throw, then junior Sophie Beneventine canned a triple from the right corner to push the lead to 44-34 with 1:36 left in the third.
• BU scored the first six points of the fourth quarter. Johnson found freshman Sam Crispe for a layup 57 seconds in, then the senior intercepted a pass in Loyola's end and got the kiss off glass and in while drawing contact. Though she missed the free throw, she got her own rebound and floated the ball in to push the edge to 52-36 with 8:21 to play.
• Leading 59-44 at the fourth quarter's halfway point, Durant collected Giannaros entry pass and made a layup as Newman fouled her, hitting the ensuing foul shot for a conventional three-point play.
• Just over a minute later, Beneventine cut off an errant Greyhound pass and led Giannaros in transition. Facing a triple team, the sophomore dished off to a cutting Johnson, who pushed a right-handed floater off glass and in, making it 64-44 Terriers.

 
STATS

• As a team, BU shot just under 45 percent from the field, and over 41 percent from three-point range.
• Giannaros and Davenport accounted for 10 of the Terriers' 12 three-pointers.
• Loyola Maryland went under 35 percent from the field, but was 6-of-12 (46.2 percent) from distance.
• BU generated 20 assists off 25 made baskets, good for 80 percent.
• The Terriers were outrebounded for just the fifth time all season, 38-32.
• Durant's six blocks were the only rejections among both teams.
• BU outscored Loyola 39-26 in the second half.
• The Terriers held advantages in fastbreak points (12-0), paint points (26-14), and points off turnovers (15-9).

 
GAME NOTES

• Giannaros eclipsed her previous career-high of five three-pointers, set against Navy on Jan. 18. She now moves into a tie with senior Maggie Pina for the team lead with 48 threes on the year, shooting at a 53.3 percent clip.
• Durant recorded her fourth double-double of the season, and 11th in her career. With the season-high 15 rebounds, she became the fifth Terrier in program history to reach 800 career boards.
• Like her classmate, Davenport also set a career-high with her quartet of threes. She registered her sixth game in double figures on the season.
• Johnson's eight assists were a season-best, and one shy of her career mark. The senior now sits in eighth place with 323 career assists at BU, while shifting into a tie for 10th place with 468 career buckets.
• BU has now won 23 games in a single season for the fourth time in program history. The feat is tied for the third-highest amount of wins in a year.
• Since the start of the 2019-20 season, BU is 33-5, postseason included, at home against Patriot League foes. The Terriers have won 10-straight at Case Gym.
• BU improves to 2-0 all-time against Loyola Maryland in the Patriot League Tournament, and 14-6 in the series history. The Terriers have won seven-consecutive meetings.

UP NEXT

• No. 1 BU turns its attention to the Patriot League semifinals, hosting No. 5 Army West Point on Thursday (March 9). Opening tip is slated for 6 p.m.