For Immediate Release: March 2, 2004
Contact: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6478

Binghamton defeated by Northeastern 60-56

Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. --Senior forward Francesca Vanin drained a game-high 17 points, leading Northeastern (12-14, 7-10 AE) to a 60-56 win over Binghamton (10-16, 9-8 AE) in an America East Conference women's basketball game on Wednesday at Solomon Court. The loss ended the Bearcats' four-game winning streak and marked the first time in four games that they have been defeated on Northeastern's home floor.

"We had a lackluster effort late in the first half," head coach Rich Conover said. "We came out strong in the second half but we did not take care of the basketball late in the game."

Vanin was one of three Husky players in double figures. Sophomore guard Jody Burrows netted 16 points and junior guard Maralene Zwarich added 13 points.

For Binghamton, freshman Laine Kurpniece (Riga, Latvia), the reigning America East Conference Rookie of the Week, led the way with 14 points. Junior guard Jen Haubrich (Bow, N.H.) had 11 points and nine rebounds while freshman guard Laura Sario (Espoo, Finland) chipped in 11 points.

Northeastern broke the game open late in the first half as sophomore guard Jody Burrows sank a three-pointer with one second remaining, giving the Huskies a 33-26 lead at the break. The first half featured two ties and three lead changes but a 6-0 run by the Huskies in the final minute gave the host team the momentum.

In the second half, Binghamton came storming back to take a 41-39 with 13:02 left to go. Kurpniece netted the last six points during the run. Northeasern, however, answered back with an 11-4 run to take a 50-45 with 6:43 to go. Burrows again provided final shot of the run, with another three pointer.

From there, Binghamton trimmed the deficit to 58-56 on a pair of free throws by Haubrich with 1:13 remaining. Following a Northeastern miss, the Bearcats got the ball with 27 seconds left, prompting Conover to call a time out.

In the ensuing 20 seconds, junior forward Rachel Laws (Wyncote, Pa.) and Sario missed back-to-back shots. Freshman guard Shaleyse Smallwood grabbed the rebound, was fouled and sank a pair of free throws with five seconds left to ice the game.

Binghamton closes out its regular season on Saturday at Vermont at 1 p.m.

NOTES: Laws had eight points and in the process, moved into eighth place all-time in school history with 957 points. In the process, she surpassed Alicia Koppenhoffer (1994-98) who had 954 career points.