For Immediate Release: December 1, 2007
Contact: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6478

Women's basketball defeats La Salle 71-61

Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y.-- Senior center Laine Kurpniece (Riga, Latvia) netted a team-high 20 points, leading Binghamton (1-5) to a 71-61 win over La Salle (3-4) in a non-conference women's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at the Events Center. In addition to recording their first win of the season, the Bearcats shot a season-best 50.9 percent from the field (29-of-57).

Kurpniece, who went 9-for-10 from the field, has now reached the 20-point mark twice this season and nine times for her career. She also moved into 13th place all time in school history with 877 points. In the process, Kurpniece surpassed Sonny Mehring, who scored 860 points from 1978-82.

The heroics by Kurpniece overshadowed a 23-point performance by La Salle senior forward Carlene Hightower. Junior guard Margaret Elderton added 14 points for the Explorers.

The Bearcats broke open a 15-15 game with a 10-0 run to go up 25-15 with 6:15 left in the first half. Kurpniece had four of her points during that run. La Salle got to within 29-23 at the 1:08 mark before sophomore guard Erica Carter (Naperville, Ill.), who scored 15 points, converted a layup at the end of the half to put the Bearcats up 31-23.

The Explorers wouldn't go away, getting to within 53-48 with 7:50 left in the second half. From there, however, Binghamton went on a 12-0 run in a span of 4:31 to go up 65-48. La Salle never got within single didgits the rest of the way.

Binghamton heads to Duquesne for a 7 p.m. game on Tuesday.

NOTES: Carter has now reached double figures in scoring three times in the last four games ... Binghamton recorded a season-high 20 assists, five of which were turned in by freshman guard Jackie Ward (Pittsford, N.Y.) ... Kurpniece was named the America East Conference Player of the Game.