Bearcats fall to Vermont in closing minutes

Box Score

BURLINGTON, Vt.- Morgan Hall had a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds, leading Vermont (12-5, 4-3 AE) to a 66-63 win over Binghamton (7-10, 3-4 AE) in an America East Conference game on Saturday at Patrick Gymnasium. Binghamton had led by as many as nine points early in the second half, but the host Catamounts rallied for the win.

Freshman guard Rachel Laws (Wyncote, Pa.) led the Bearcats with a career-high 15 points and sophomore forward Erin Forkey (Freedom, N.Y.) netted a career-high 12 points. Junior guard Kate Townley (St. Paul, Minn.) had 10 points and six assists.

"It was a disappointing outcome but we had an outstanding effort against a very good team on the road," associate head coach Rich Conover said. "Erin and Rachel both played great games and only continue to get better."

Vermont jumped out to a 16-8 lead in the opening 7:20 but the Bearcats, aided by an 8-0 run in the ensuing 2:19, tied the game at 16-16. Binghamton closed out the first half on an 11-3 run in the final five minutes to take a 34-28 lead at the break.

The Bearcats came out roaring in the second half, extending their lead to 39-30 in the opening 1:22. Vermont, however, went on a 7-2 run on the ensuing 1:23 to trim the deficit to 41-37 with 15:47 left to go. Later in the half, the Catamounts went on a 6-0 run in a span of 1:08 to tie the game at 55-55 with 6:23 remaining.

The score was tied at 58-58 with 5:00 remaining, when Vermont scored five straight points to take a 63-58 lead with three minutes remaining. Binghamton, however, would not go away as Laws converted a three-point play with 2:12 remaining that narrowed the deficit to 63-61.

Vermont made three out of four free throws in the closing minute, but could only stay ahead by three points. Two potential game-tying three-pointers by the Bearcats missed in the final three seconds, and Vermont hung on for the win.

Binghamton returns home to face Hartford on Wednesday at 7 p.m.