University at Buffalo
1-9
Binghamton
1-8
Late Charge Not Enough As Bulls Fall To Binghamton, 65-60
12/8/2012 12:00:00β―AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's basketball team was unable to hold on to on to an early 10-point lead, falling to Binghamton, 65-60, Saturday evening at Alumni Arena. Junior Margeaux Gupilan recorded a career-high 20 points in the loss.
The Bulls jumped out to a 17-7 lead with 12:18 left in the opening half on a jumper from freshman Rachael Gregory. However, Binghamton answered with a 13-3 run, tying the game up at 20-20 with 6:39 left. The game remained tied at 26-26 when Binghamton hit a layup with 1:09 left to take a lead into the half.
UB went back up early in the second half on another jumper from Gregory, but a an 8-1 Binghamton run put it up for good. The Bearcats led by as many as six with 6:15 left, but the Bulls scored five straight points, capped off on a three from Gupilan to pull Buffalo within one at 51-50. However, Binghamton answered with five straight of its own to go back up by six. The Bulls pulled back within one on two more occasions, but couldn't break through either time as Binghamton hit seven of its eight free throws late.
Gupilan finished with her career-best 20 points, the fourth different UB player to score at least 20 in a game this season. Gupilan went 6-for-8 from the field and 4-for-5 from three-point range, while hitting all four of her free throws. Defensively, Gupilan finished with seven steals, tied for fifth most in a game in Division I history and the most in a game for a UB player since Brittany Hedderson had seven against Delaware on Nov. 22, 2008.
Sophomore Christa Baccas recorded her second double-double of the season as she finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, adding two assists, three blocks and two steals. Gregory reached double figures for her fifth consecutive game, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds.
Sophomore Kaila Callender gave the Bulls solid minutes off the bench as she tied her career high with four points and reached a new career-best with four rebounds in 22 minutes of action. Five other UB players recorded buckets on the evening.
The UB defense forced Binghamton into 23 turnovers, but 18 of those occurred in the first half. The 16 steals from the Bulls were a season high in a game.
Binghamton was led by 11 points from Sharae Swinson and Jasbriell Swain, who also added nine rebounds. Two other players finished with 10 points.
The Bulls now break for finals week before returning home to face Niagara on Dec. 21 at 2:00 pm.
