Women's College Basketball
Binghamton University 72, Rider University 67

VESTAL, N.Y.—The Binghamton University Bearcats overcame a 10-point second half deficit to snap a nine-game losing streak, defeating the Rider University women's basketball team 72-67 on Sunday afternoon at the Events Center.

Binghamton was led by 29 points from Imani Watkins.

Trailing 65-61, Binghamton (2-10) went on an 8-0 run, taking a 69-65 lead with 54 seconds left in the game, the 15th and final lead change of the contest.

“We didn't defend,” said head coach Lynn Milligan.  “That's the bottom line.  We didn't get stops when we needed to get them.”

Two free throws by senior Kornelija Valiuskyte (Siauliai, Lithuania/The Rock School) cut the Bronc deficit to two with 44 seconds left but that was as close as Rider would get as a layup with 19 seconds left clinched it for Binghamton.

Rider (3-8) was led by 15 points from sophomore Robin Perkins (Willingboro/Trenton Catholic) with junior Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) adding 13 points.

Training 49-39, the Bearcats scored 10 of the next 13 points, cutting Rider's lead to three (52-49) with 8:32 left and after the Broncs pushed the lead back to 59-54, Binghamton got to within two 59-57 with 5:27 left in the contest.

The opening half saw the lead change 10 times as Rider led 31-30 at intermission.

Trailing 5-2, Bronc freshman Jessie Wallace (Reading, Pa./Wilson) scored back to back baskets, give Rider a 6-5 lead with 15:38 left in the first half.  Wallace finished with 12 points in 26 minutes on five for six shooting.

Trailing 8-6, Binghamton went on an 8-0 run before back to back three-pointers by Fazzini tied the game 14-14 with 11:51 left in period one.  Fazzini played 32 minutes and had three of Rider's seven three-pointers.

Consecutive baskets by Perkins gave the Broncs a 21-18 lead with 6:35 remaining in the first half.  Perkins was seven for 13 from the field and added four rebounds, two assists and a steal in 25 minutes before fouling out.

Freshman Kamila Hoskova (Czech Republic/SSMH Brno) hit two three-pointers in a row to give Rider a 27-26 lead with 3:39 left in the first half.  Hoskova had 12 points including a three for three effort from three-point range.

Rider out-shot Binghamton 44 percent (24-55) to 39 percent (25-65) but the Bearcats stayed in the game with a 42-34 rebounding advantage, including 16-12 on the offensive glass.

The Broncs were led on the boards by senior Marritta Gillcrease (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry Traditional) who had 11, three days after pulling down 20 rebounds in Rider's victory over Maryland Baltimore County.

Rider played its second game in a row without its leading rebounder, sophomore Julia Duggan (Marmora/Ocean City) who is out with a concussion.

Rider defeated Binghamton 66-63 in overtime at Alumni Gymnasium last season.  The teams have now split four games in the series.

The Broncs travel to the University of Delaware for a 7pm game on December 29 before resuming conference play on January 2 at Saint Peter's.

-RU-