On the morning of Feb. 28, Binghamton University women’s basketball (13-15, 8-7 America East) sat in fifth place in the AE standings. With upcoming games against UMBC and New Hampshire, the Bearcats could have climbed up the standings, or taken a massive fall.
Fortunately for Binghamton, the Bearcats did the former.
With two wins in five days, Binghamton improved its conference record to 8-7 and clinched the fourth seed in the upcoming America East Tournament. The two wins against UMBC and New Hampshire, however, could not be any different.
Binghamton played host to UMBC on Feb. 28 on Senior Day at the Events Center. The Bearcats won the game in a dominant display where they took the lead with 13:55 left in the first half and never looked back, winning 70-50. Fittingly, senior Laura Franceski dominated the game with 15 points and rebounds apiece, and three blocks. After the game, Franceski discussed the emotions of playing her last-ever game at the Events Center.
“It meant a lot to be on the court with my teammates,” the senior center said. “It all went by so fast. I feel like I just got here as a freshman. I’m sad it’s over.”
Franceski’s teammates were moved by her performance as well.
“She’s a great teammate, a great player,” said junior Erica Carter after the game. “Her leaving is making some of us think that we are running out of games.”
On Wednesday, March 4, Binghamton traveled to New Hampshire to play the Wildcats at the Lundholm Gym for the Wildcats’ Senior Night.
In a tense game in which both teams amassed leads of at least seven points, redshirt freshman and Wildcat guard Abigail LaRosa drilled a 3-pointer with six seconds left on the game clock to tie the game at 53. However, magic then happened for the Bearcats. Freshman point guard Andrea Holmes drove into the paint and kicked the ball out to a wide-open Jackie Ward, who hit a 3-pointer from the right wing with one second left in the game to give the Bearcats a 56-53 victory. Ward, a sophomore who had hit what looked like a game-winning shot against Boston before the Terriers scored on their last possession, was able to get credit for the winning play this time around.
“Coach [Nicole] Scholl drew up a play for [Holmes] to drive to the paint and if she was double-teamed to kick the ball out to me or [Carter],” Ward said. “I was in the right place at the right time.”
Overall, Scholl was pleased with her team’s effort in New Hampshire.
“The road is always tough,” Scholl said. “I thought our players did a good job of battling tonight.”
By virtue of beating UMBC and New Hampshire, the Bearcats have locked up the fourth seed in the AE Tournament. Binghamton will play New Hampshire in round one if New Hampshire defeats Hartford tomorrow, but draws UMBC with a New Hampshire loss.
The tournament will take place March 12 to 15 at Hartford.