The exciting but inconsistent Binghamton women’s basketball team fell just short of the Big Dance.
The Bearcats (12-19) extended their season with a dramatic 63-58 win over the Boston University Terriers. But once again, Binghamton failed to beat that perennial thorn-in-side, the Hartford Hawks, in the semifinals.
Although Cinderella was dressed in Baltimore gold and black instead of Binghamton green and white last weekend, the Bearcats provided their fair share of dramatic moments.
The comeback ‘ Bearcats 63, Boston U. 58
For most of the season, the Bearcats burst out of the starting gate faster than their opponents. They would build a big lead and almost always see that advantage evaporate.
Against the Terriers last Friday night, the typical roles reversed. Boston routed Binghamton in the first half, jumping out to a 29-12 lead behind their two star guards, senior Katie Meinhardt and junior Cheri Raffo. Boston’s duo outscored the entire Bearcats team by four in the first half as the Terriers took a 31-23 lead at the intermission.
‘I thought Boston played outstanding,’ said head coach Rich Conover. ‘Katie Meinhardt dominated the game early.’
Boston scored the first eight points of the second half to build a seemingly insurmountable 39-23 advantage with 18:19 remaining.
But then the Terriers got hit with some Events Center magic.
Binghamton exploded for a 23-7 spurt over the next 10:40 of game action to even the score. The Bearcats finally got the home crowd rocking with a concerted defensive effort and clutch baskets. Meinhardt, who finished with 25 points and shot the Bearcats out of the gym in the first half, saw less and less room to operate as Binghamton’s snowball became an avalanche.
‘We just put our nose to the grindstone and played much, much better in the second half,’ Conover said. ‘I thought team-wise, defensively we held [Meinhardt] in check a little bit.’
With 8:56 left, Laura Sario, who was named to the AE All-Tournament team, drained three of her 19 second-half points to cut Boston’s lead to 46-43. Two possessions later, Laine Kurpniece hit a shocking 3-pointer from the top of the key to even the score.
‘I didn’t know where to put the ball!’ Kurpniece exclaimed. ‘I was surprised, actually.’
Kurpniece’s first 3-pointer of the season brought the entire crowd to its feet.
‘I thought the crowd was outstanding,’ Conover said. ‘They really exploded when we regained the lead and I think that was what propelled us to a victory.’
The Bearcats never trailed again. With 6:55 left, Sario drove the lane and hit a runner as Meinhardt fouled her. Sario, who would finish with a career-high 26 points, completed the old-fashioned 3-point play to give the Bearcats a 49-46 lead. She scored 11 of Binghamton’s last 14 points to carry the Bearcats to the semifinals.
‘After I hit some shots, I gained confidence,’ Sario said. ‘I felt much more comfortable shooting the ball after I hit a couple.’
‘That’s the zone,’ Conover added.
Heartbreak against Hartford
The Bearcats entered Saturday’s semifinal on an emotional high. Having barely avoided elimination against the Terriers, Binghamton felt it could carry its solid second half into a matchup with top-seeded Hartford.
The Hawks decided to crush those dreams.
Hartford jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the first eight minutes and held on desperately all night for a 56-46 victory. The Bearcats could never establish their strong inside game, as Hartford’s interior defense proved too formidable.
‘They put a lot of pressure on us,’ Kurpniece said. ‘I guess we didn’t handle that and when we actually got the ball inside, it seemed like all the players collapsed on the inside.’
BU had reason to feel confident entering the locker room. Freshman guard Erica Carter drained a corner 3 to cut the deficit to 26-22 at the interval.
‘We were pumped up,’ Conover said. ‘We were ready to roll.’
Binghamton got no closer the rest of the way. The Hawks engineered a 6-0 spurt to start the second half and BU ran out of magic. Hartford was led by two of its role players, as the physical nature of the game prevented the stars on both teams from getting on track. Reserve guard Courtney Gomez and forward Katie Kelley connected for 13 and 12 points, respectively.
‘You have to tip your hat to Katie Kelley and Courtney Gomez,’ Conover said. ‘That’s why they’re a championship team.’
(The following night, a visibly exhausted Hartford team failed to 3-peat, losing to UMBC 48-46.)
Recognition of Kenny, Lindgren and a sneak peak at 2007-08
Saturday’s semifinal was the last game for senior guards Shea Kenny and Rebecka Lindgren. Although both players started for most of the season, Lindgren could not play in the tournament due to an ankle injury.
‘They’ve definitely been some of the best seniors since I’ve been at BU. We were missing Rebecka in this tournament, but no matter what, she was still there, and I’m really proud of our seniors,’ Kurpniece said.
‘It’s been great to play with both of them,’ a tearful Sario said. ‘I feel like they’re our leaders and I’m just going to do my best to be like they have been this year, next year as a senior.’
With freshman point guard Muffy Sadler also sidelined after an ACL injury, Kenny was forced to play all but one minute of the Bearcats’ last four games. The normally composed Conover even got emotional.
‘I don’t know what else you could ask of Shea Kenny,’ Conover said, close to tears. ‘[She] hit big shot after big shot, having the other team’s best defenders hounding her down the floor. I think that shows you just her character and her makeup.’
On Lindgren, Conover added: ‘She had wanted to be out there and really worked at it, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Rebecka has been here for four years. She’s been a leader since she came here.’
Next season looks to be promising for the women’s basketball team. The entire front court is returning, plus some talented young guards in Carter, Sadler, Darryll Peterson and Lauren Regan.
‘We’re going to be a real experienced team, looking forward,’ Kurpniece said. ‘[I’m] really excited about next year because it should be good ‘ better than this one.’