Bearcats fall to Albany 75-62

Box Score
Post-Game Quotes

ALBANY, N.Y.- Despite a valiant comeback in the second half, the Binghamton (6-8, 2-2 AE) women's basketball team fell to Albany (7-9, 1-4 AE) 75-62 on Wednesday night at the Albany Recreation and Convocation Center. For the Great Danes, the victory marked their first-ever conference victory in the America East Conference, snapping an 0-20 skid. It also marked the first Albany win over Binghamton since November 23, 1993, ending a string of seven consecutive Binghamton wins in the series between the two schools.

We didn't play as good on defense as we were capable tonight," said associate head coach Rich Conover. "They ran their offense well and we didn't respond well. We dug ourselves into a hole and Albany is too good of a team at home to do that against."

Binghamton had three players in double figures, led by freshman guard Jen Blues (Overland Park, Kan.), who netted 14 points, junior forward Leala Wegwerth (Maplewood, Minn.), who scored all 12 of her points in the second half, and freshman guard Rachel Laws (Wyncote, Pa.), who had a career-high 12 points.

Albany jumped out to a 10-4 lead at the 15:30 mark of the first half but Binghamton went on a 7-0 run to take an 11-10 lead with 13:33 remaining. Late in the half, however, Albany went on a 16-1 run in a span of 5:40 to take a 37-20 lead with 2:39 left to go. The Great Danes went into the locker room with a 41-24 advantage.

In the second half, Binghamton got the deficit into single digits, going on a 15-6 run in a span of 6:00 to make the score 51-42 with 12:45 left to go. Using a 12-3 run in a span of 4:47, the Bearcats trimmed the lead down to 64-58 with 3:41 remaining. The Great Danes, however, made sure Binghamton got no closer, making several clutch free throws down the stretch to clinch the win.

Binghamton continues its road swing with a Saturday game against New Hampshire at 1 p.m.

NOTES: Head coach Laurie Kelly is on maternity leave through at least the end of this week ... The game against Albany marked the sixth time in the last seven contests that Conover has served as the interim head coach ... The Bearcats have gone 3-3 during that stretch.