For Immediate Release: November 16, 2010
Contact: Kevin Solan (sports1@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6478

BU women's basketball cruises 66-50 in home opener over Canisius
Holmes pours in game-high 28 points, while Swain adds second straight double-double

Game File

VESTAL, N.Y.-- Junior point guard Andrea Holmes netted a game-high 28 points, leading Binghamton (1-1) to a 66-50 victory over the Canisius Golden Griffins (0-2) in the home opener at the Events Center Tuesday. Freshman guard Jasbriell Swain followed her collegiate debut of 18 points and 11 rebounds with another double-double in her second contest as a Bearcat. The Bearcats earned their first win over Canisius since 2005, when they defeated the Golden Griffins 93-86 in overtime.

Holmes connected on 8-of-19 field goal attempts and added three assists and five steals to lead the Bearcats. Swain, who earned America East Rookie of the Week accolades for a double-double in her collegiate debut, posted 15 points and 12 rebounds as an encore presentation. The last time a Bearcat recorded consecutive double-doubles was last year on January 9th by Viive Rebane (13 pts., 10 reb.). Rebane, a junior forward, narrowly missed her seventh career double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Back-to-back layups by sophomore forward Kara Elofson and Rebane to start the game, followed by one of Holmes' six 3-pointers sparked an early 7-0 run out of the gate and the Bearcats never looked back. Binghamton never trailed in the contest and built a lead as large as 20 points with 6:03 remaining in the second half.

BU only managed to shoot 33% from the floor, but atoned for a mediocre shooting performance by dominating the offensive and defensive glass. The Bearcats outrebounded Canisius 49-29 and tallied 23 offensive rebounds to complement 26 on the defensive side. For the second straight game, BU was effective from the free-throw line as they knocked down 15-of-19 attempts for a 79% shooting percentage.

Only six players logged minutes in the 62-59 overtime loss to St. Bonaventure on Friday. Eight Bearcats saw the floor in the home opener, although only the starting five contributed to the scoring column as they registered all 66 points Tuesday night.

Andrea Holmes was selected as the America East Player of the Game sponsored by Security Mutual life.

Binghamton takes on Rider University Saturday at 2 p.m. in a non-conference contest.