For Immediate Release: December 29, 2007
Contact: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6478

Women's basketball unable to hold lead, loses 71-65 to St. Bonaventure

Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y.- Sophomore forward Dana Mitchell scored a game-high 28 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, leading visiting St. Bonaventure (11-2) to a 71-65 win over Binghamton (2-10) in a non-conference women's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at the Events Center. The game marked the third of a season-high five game home stand for the Bearcats.

Binghamton was leading 52-46 at the 8:23 mark of the second half when St. Bonaventure capitalized on a personal and technical foul against junior forward Laura Franceski (Moscow, Pa.). The Bonnies made all four three-throws to get back in the game.

From there, St. Bonaventure closed out the game on a 25-13 run. Mitchell scored five of the final seven points for the Bonnies as they went on a a 7-2 run over the last 1:53.

"I feel we're close to getting over the hump," said head coach Rich Conover. "We've had leads late in the game and now its time to start putting teams away."
Mitchell, who is the leading scorer in the Atlantic 10, shot 10-for-14 from the field and was 8-for-9 from the free throw line. Sophomore guard Andrea Doneth added 16 points and shot a perfect 8-for-8 from the line.

Senior center Laine Kurpniece (Riga, Latvia) led the Bearcats with 20 points and seven rebounds. Franceski scored a career-high 19 points and blocked five shots.

Binghamton hosts Cornell in their final non-conference game of the season next Monday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m.

NOTES: Kurpniece was named the America East Player of the Game. It was her fourth 20-point game of the season and 11th of her career … Franceski's career-high in points broke her previous high of 16, which she accomplished twice earlier in the season … Franceski's five blocks gives her 107 for her career … senior guard Laura Sario (Espoo, Finland) scored 12 points to push her career total to 921 and moved past Jen Gaeta into 13th place on Binghamton's all-time scoring list.