For Immediate Release: November 13, 2009
Contact: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6478

Binghamton women's basketball drops season opener to St. Bonaventure 63-42

Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y.-- Sophomore guard Jessica Jenkins scored a game-high 17 points and senior forward Dana Mitchell added 15 points, powering St. Bonaventure (1-0) to a 63-42 win over Binghamton (0-1) in a non-conference women's basketball game on Friday night at the Events Center. The game marked the opening of the Bearcats' ninth season as a NCAA Division I program.

Mitchell nailed all five of her shots in the first half as the Bonnies opened up a 31-17 lead at the break. Jenkins, meanwhile, scored 13 of her points in the second half.

Binghamton was led by senior guard Erica Carter, who netted a team-best 14 points. Sophomore point guard Andrea Holmes added six points, five assists, four rebounds a block and a steal.

Both teams got off to a rough start offensively as the score was tied 14-14 with 9:38 remaining in the first half. From there, however, the Bonnies closed the half on a 17-3 run to take a 31-17 lead at the break.

Sophomore center Emma Cronk scored the opening basket 13 seconds after the intermission but St. Bonaventure went on a 12-5 run to take a 43-24 lead with 14:04 remaining in regulation. The Bonnies built their lead up to as high as 55-31 with 7:36 left on a three pointer by Jenkins.

St Bonaventure held a 40-27 rebounding advantage and and the Bearcats shot just 30 percent for the game (14-of-46).

Binghamton returns to action next Sunday at Syracuse at 2 p.m.

NOTES: Played in her first game after sitting out as a transfer last season, Cronk had six points and a game-high three blocks. Cronk played at Gardner-Webb in 2007-08 ... Holmes now has 11 career games with at least five assists ... Carter moves into 20th place all time in school history with 776 career points. She moved ahead of Stephanie Rom (1994-98), who had 768 career points. Carter has now reached double figures in scoring 40 times during her career.