For Immediate Release: February 16, 2008
Contact: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6478

Binghamton women's basketball defeats UMBC 83-66
Five players score in double figures as Bearcats record top offensive game of season

Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y.- Sophomore guard Erica Carter (Naperville, Ill.) and senior forward Brianna Thompson (Chehalis, Wash.) each scored a team-high 16 points, leading Binghamton (8-15, 6-4 AE) to a 83-66 win over UMBC (8-16, 4-7 AE) in an America East Conference women's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at the Events Center. The win is the Bearcats second in their past three games.

The Bearcats' 83 points is a season-high, surpassing their total of 82 against New Hampshire on Jan. 19. Binghamton has now averaged 77.0 points in its last three outings.

"We shared the ball well and moved it against their defense," head coach Rich Conover said. "It created good opportunities in the post and from three-pointers. On the defensive side, we made UMBC work for points and we contested their shots well."

Carter scored 13 of her points in the first half as Binghamton jumped out to a 42-25 halftime lead. Sophomore guard Muffy Sadler (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) added nine points in the opening 20 minutes, draining three shots from beyond the arc.

Thompson, whose point total was her season high, scored 12 of her points in the second half. She went 4-for-4 from the line in the final two minutes and added seven rebounds for the game. Binghamton kept the lead at least 10 points throughout the second half.

Binghamton had a season-high five players reach double figures in scoring. Senior forward Juta Jahilo (Helsinki, Finland) finished with a season-high 12 points while junior forward Laura Franceski (Moscow, Pa.) had 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Senior center Laine Kurpniece (Riga, Latvia), meanwhile, recorded her second consecutive double-double, amassing 10 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

Senior guard Laura Sario (Espoo, Finland) grabbed eight boards and tied a career high with seven assists. It is also the highest assist total turned in by a Binghamton player this season.

Sophomore guard Carlee Cassidy, who leads the America East Conference in scoring, poured in a game-high 18 points and dished out seven assists for UMBC. Junior guard Chantay Frazier added 15 points and five rebounds.

Binghamton shot a season-best 52 percent, going 28-of-54 from the field. The Bearcats also outrebounded the Retrievers 45-27.

Binghamton continues its three-game home stand against Hartford on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

NOTES: Carter and Frazier were named the America East Players of the Game ... Kurpniece now has 12 career double-doubles ... Carter has now reached double figures in the Bearcats' last six games.