Binghamton University seniors Andrea Holmes and Viive Rebane were both announced as All-Conference selections on Thursday, exciting news for a team that just concluded its regular season schedule last Saturday.
But after a 2011-12 campaign of underachieving, the Binghamton women’s basketball team has a clean slate as it enters the single-elimination America East tournament this weekend, and an opportunity for its All-Conference seniors to show why they were honored.
The No. 6 Bearcats (12-17, 6-10 AE), who were picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches poll, will play tournament-host University of Hartford, the No. 3 seed, in the quarterfinals.
During the regular season, Binghamton dropped both games against Hartford, the second of which commenced the Bearcats’ current four-game losing skid.
The Hawks took the first meeting 63-41 at the Events Center and beat the Bearcats by nine in Hartford on Feb. 11. Both times, Binghamton struggled with turnovers, an issue that has recently plagued the Bearcats. Hartford held an average turnover margin of plus-7.5 in the two meetings. As a result, the Hawks launched a total of 21 more shots than BU.
Hartford junior forward Nikkia Smith was the most difficult defensive assignment for the Bearcats in those two games, leading the Hawks in scoring both times with an average of 20 points per game.
Nevertheless, Rebane said she has a plan for stopping Smith, hoping the third time will be the charm.
“Just be physical with her, and not make it easier for her,” Rebane said. “If she catches the ball down in the paint, it’s kind of easy for her to shoot over because she’s really athletic and has good footwork and good balance.”
For the Bearcats, Holmes was a key player in both meetings with Hartford. The America East’s leading scorer averaged 12 points and three assists against the Hawks.
Last season, Holmes tore her ACL and missed the conference tournament. But this year, Holmes is healthy heading into March, something fellow senior Orla O’Reilly thinks should help the team’s chances of advancing.
“Going into the tournament last year without Holmes was difficult … because the ball was in her hands most of the time [throughout the season],” O’Reilly said. “I think we’re a lot more set this year going in, and I think we’re a lot more prepared for the first game so I think we’ll do a lot better.”
Aside from the addition of Holmes to the lineup come tip-off in Hartford this year, the Bearcats find themselves in another differentiating situation. While Binghamton entered last year’s tournament as the No. 3 seed, this year’s squad carries the No. 6 seed.
Still, Rebane said she would not use the underdog label as an excuse for a first-round exit.
“Obviously [Hartford is] expected to win, but I’m not going to say that we don’t have anything to lose going into this game, because we do,” she said. “So I think we still have a lot of pressure on, and I think it’s 50-50 for both teams right now.”
Even though Binghamton is an underdog, O’Reilly thinks this year’s team could have more success than last year’s in the conference tournament.
“I don’t know if we’re a worse team than last year, but I think our record doesn’t show our talent and I think we just lost out on a couple wins that we could’ve gotten throughout the year,” she said. “But I think … we’re more prepared for the tournament than we were last year.”
In last year’s tournament, Binghamton defeated University of New Hampshire in its first game before falling to Boston University in the semifinals. This year, the path to the same stage may be a bit more difficult, as Hartford has a distinct home-court advantage.
Regardless, Rebane said the tournament’s location in relation to her team’s first opponent could add more pressure on the Hawks.
“I’m sure we would like to have it the other way, that they’re coming here to play,” she said. “But sometimes there’s a little bit more pressure on them because they’re home court and the fans are there, but we have to play a little bit better because of it.”
Despite the regular season results against the Hawks, the Bearcats think they can eliminate the tournament hosts. They’ll just need to come ready to play.
“I’m saying that they are a very good team but I don’t think they’re anything amazing,” Rebane said. “And I think we can match up with them if we really focus and play a good game.”
Tip-off is set for 8:15 p.m. tonight at Chase Family Arena.
Rebane and the rest of the seniors hope it’s not their last tip-off.
“You don’t get any more opportunities,” she said. “So you just try to give your best and that’s all we have.”