Boston, MA (U-WIRE) -- In a normal basketball season, two weeks off in between games has the potential to be disastrous. For the Boston University women's basketball team, which is still trying to learn a new system of basketball, these two weeks have been a blessing.

"With two weeks off, we were able to set up a few more offensive looks," said BU coach Kelly Greenberg. "Especially after the St. Joseph's game, it gave us a lot of time to look at film and see what we needed to do."

The well-prepared Terriers (0-1) march into Brooklyn, N.Y. today to take on Long Island University (1-0) at the Schwartz Athletic Center. However, the new-look Terriers won't be the same team that lost a 51-49 season opener at St. Joseph's University on Nov. 12. That team has been modified once again.

"We want to push the ball," Greenberg said. "We think that can make us create more havoc for the other team. We really need to set the tone early on and keep that up-and-down kind of game. At St. Joe's, I thought we did a lot of good things, but we seemed to get stuck at times in our half-court set-up."

This fast-pace game that will press on the defense and try to force turnovers is the exact opposite of the game plan against St. Joseph's. Greenberg wanted to see her players' raw abilities last game and get a feel of their capabilities. The Terriers were told to be smart and not force things, which may have led to more of slow-paced game, where BU would look for the best shot in 30 seconds.

While Greenberg is still looking for the best shot, she also believes that the team's best opportunities against the Hawks came when they were running the ball and making St. Joseph's chase them. The Terriers had a lot of trouble down the stretch of the game against the Hawks getting baskets in the half-court offense, despite getting back into the game via the run-and-gun style.

BU will look for the same support it received from its freshmen last game, as the two high-scorers, Corrine Jean and Cheri Raffo, are both members of the Class of 2008. Jean found the stroke from three-point range, hitting it three times on the way to her season-high 14 points, while Raffo finished with 10. If the Terriers will be a running team, they'll have to focus on defensive rebounds, where senior Becky Bonner and junior Adrienne Norris both led the way last game with eight boards apiece.

"My biggest thing is that our team comes out with more energy and focus than LIU does," Greenberg said. "Those are two things we can control ourselves and we're expecting it right from the get-go."

Long Island was ranked fourth in the pre-season Northeast Conference poll mostly because of sophomore point guard Kelli Sawyer, a member of last year's NEC All-Rookie team. Sawyer led the Blackbirds last season with 10.9 points per game and 4.1 assists per contest. Long Island comes back with experience this season, returning all five starters from their 11-17 squad last year.

The Blackbirds come off a win in a scrimmage against the New York Gazelles 65-55 at Schwartz Center. Sawyer nearly had a triple-double, recording 12 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Senior forward Ravin Chase scored 10 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to help the cause. Long Island controlled the game pretty much from start to finish, as a 19-3 run midway through the first half gave the Blackbirds a 27-10 edge that they never relinquished.

Sawyer will be a difficult job for any of the Terrier guards, but Greenberg has a lot of faith that her players can contain the speedy guard.

"Rachael [Vanderwal] and Cheri are really playing well with guards one-on-one," Greenberg said. "I think they'll do a terrific job on [Sawyer]. We play a lot of teams with good guards like them, so we just know that we need to get after her and make her work. She definitely is quick though."

Greenberg said BU will probably start out in a man-to-man defense but will also mix it up as the game goes along. However, Greenberg did stress the importance of team defense and the awareness of where every Blackbird is on the floor at all times.

This will be only the second ever meeting between these two teams, as BU won the only other contest, 69-57, on Dec. 14, 1994.

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