Boston University
14-3 (4-0)
Binghamton
2-15 (1-3)
Women's Basketball Holds Off Binghamton, 57-52
January 12, 2013 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2013
BOSTON – Seniors Chantell Alford and Kristen Sims combined for 28 points, as the Boston University women’s basketball team extended its winning streak to 11 straight games with a 57-52 victory over Binghamton Saturday afternoon at Case Gym. The Terriers improve to 14-3 and a perfect 4-0 in the America East while Binghamton drops to 2-15 on the season and 1-3 in conference play.
The Terriers extended their longest winning streak since posting 13 consecutive victories last year with three players scoring in double-digits against the Bearcats. Alford led the team with 16 points, including 11 in the second half, while adding eight rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists. Sims was second on the team with 12 points while fellow senior Mo Moran added 10 points and five assists.
Junior Rashidat Agboola pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds to go with seven points while classmate Danielle Callahan chipped in eight points and three rebounds off the bench.
The Bearcats were led by Sherae Swinson’s 18 points while Vaneeshia Paulk added 13 points and six rebounds. Jasbriell swain led the team with seven rebounds and scored six points.
Binghamton posted a better field goal percentage than BU, as the Bearcats went 22-of-54 from the floor for a 40.7 percent clip while the Terriers shot 30.4 percent (21-of-69). BU was well below their average of 8.3 3-pointers per game, as the Terriers connected on just 3-of-23 shots from beyond the arc (13.0 percent). The Bearcats shot 33.3 percent from the 3-point line (4-of-12). BU performed well at the free throw line, sinking 12 of their 13 opportunities while Binghamton went 4-of-9 from the stripe.
The Terriers held a 44-40 advantage on the boards and scored 20 points off of 17 Binghamton turnovers. BU, who came into the game averaging 12.0 turnovers per game to rank third in Division I, only committed nine against the Bearcats.
The Terriers took a 25-22 lead after a first half that was close throughout. With the teams tied at 4-4 early, the Terriers went on a 7-2 run to take an 11-6 advantage following a layup from Agboola before Binghamton called for a timeout at 14:03. After the break, Binghamton made it a one-possession game with a jumper from Paulk and kept it close until Callahan and Sims combined for a pair of baskets to give BU its largest lead of the half, 17-10, with 8:51 to play.
The Bearcats quickly brought the margin down to two with a 3-pointer from Swinson and a jumper by Kandace Newrey before Moran extended BU's lead with a pair of free throws. Both teams struggled to score over the next few minutes before Swinson used her own 4-0 run to make it a one-point game, 20-19, with 3:32 remaining. Following a Callahan jumper, Alford pushed BU's lead out to five points with her first 3-pointer of the game but Swinson answered with a trey on the other end to send the teams into the break with BU holding a 25-22 advantage.
BU opened the second half with a 7-2 run to push its lead to eight points following a layup from Sims. The Terriers got their advantage out to 10 with a layup from Mollie McKendrick with 14:58 to play but Binghamton did not let BU got too far ahead. Swain connected on a layup to make it a five-point game, 40-35, with 12:48 to go. The Terriers responded with a mini run capped by a jumper from Alford to regain a double-digit advantage with 8:17 to play and force the Bearcats into a timeout
Binghamton came out of the break and went on a 9-2 run to bring the score to 48-45 with 5:13 remaining in regulation. Both teams went scoreless for the next two and a half minutes before Alford’s trey at 2:44 gave the Terriers a six-point advantage. The Bearcats did not back down and again pulled within three points following a jumper from Paulk with just over a minute to go but it would be as close as Binghamton would get. The Terriers went 4-4 from the free throw line in the final 60 seasons to hang on for the 57-52 victory.
BU returns to action on Wednesday (Jan. 6) when the Terriers head to Orono, Maine for an America East contest with the Maine Black Bears. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in Alfond Arena.
