Boston College Women’s Basketball Shows Early Fight, But Clemson Pulls Away Late
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - For a few early minutes on Sunday afternoon, Boston College women’s basketball looked like a team ready to flip the script. The Eagles came out firing from deep, knocking down three triples in the opening three minutes and grabbing a quick 9-4 lead on the road at Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum.
But after that hot start, the Tigers responded with poise and power, stringing together a 15-3 run that flipped the momentum and ultimately set the tone for what became an 83-59 Clemson win. With the loss, BC falls to 4-22 overall and 0-13 in ACC play, while Clemson improves to 17-8 and 7-4 in the conference.
Shooting From Deep, and Often
If there’s one thing this Boston College squad isn’t lacking, it’s the green light from deep. Every one of the Eagles’ eight made field goals in the first half came from beyond the arc.
Erin Houpt led the charge with 14 points on the day, knocking down three of her four shots-all from three-and going a perfect 5-for-5 at the line. Her smooth stroke and confidence from distance gave BC some much-needed scoring punch early.
Freshman Athena Tomlinson got the Eagles going with two early threes, helping BC jump out to that initial five-point lead. Jocelyne Grier added another deep ball in the second quarter that briefly gave the Eagles a 27-26 edge with just over six minutes left in the half.
But that was the last time BC would hold the lead. Clemson clamped down defensively and closed the second quarter on a dominant 15-0 run, turning a one-point deficit into a 41-27 halftime advantage. The Tigers' ability to turn up the pressure and capitalize in transition proved to be a major turning point.
Second-Half Push Falls Short
Boston College showed some fight in the third quarter, refusing to let the game slip away without a response. Lily Carmody provided a spark off the bench, scoring four quick points late in the third to trim the deficit to eight. It was the closest the Eagles would get the rest of the way.
Clemson slammed the door in the fourth, shooting a blistering 60 percent from the field in the final frame and outscoring BC by 12 in the quarter. The Tigers' depth and efficiency wore down the Eagles, who struggled to generate consistent offense outside of their perimeter shooting.
Kayla Rolph chipped in 12 points for BC and led the team with seven rebounds, continuing to be a steady interior presence. Grier added to her solid week with another double-digit scoring effort, while Carmody’s energy and scoring touch off the bench were bright spots in an otherwise tough afternoon.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, there were flashes of promise-particularly in the first half, when BC’s ball movement and outside shooting created real problems for Clemson. Houpt's shooting form continues to be a weapon, and the young core is showing signs of growth, even if the results aren’t showing up in the win column just yet.
Houpt finished the week averaging 12.5 points per game while shooting an efficient 54.5 percent from the field and 60 percent from three. She also went a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Grier and Carmody each averaged 10.5 points across the week’s two contests, providing some balance behind the team's leading scorer.
Next up, the Eagles head south to take on Florida State in Tallahassee on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. as BC continues its search for that elusive first ACC win-and a full 40-minute performance to match the flashes of potential we've seen in spurts.