Jan. 26, 2008

Box Score

Vestal, N.Y. - Juta Jahilo led a balanced Binghamton attack with 11 points as it defeated the Stony Brook women's basketball team, 59-35, at the Events Center on Saturday afternoon. Stony Brook is now 6-12, 1-4 in conference play. Binghamton is 6-12, 4-1.

Both teams struggled in the early going before Laura Franceski sinked a layup with 17:54 left in the half. Senior Dana Ferraro (Middlesex, N.J.) put the Seawolves on the board with a running floater from the left side. Franceski keyed the Bearcats early 10-4 advantage with six points, all of which came in the paint.

Binghamton's advantage in the paint allowed them to go on a 9-0 run before senior Aly Young's (Lodi, Calif.) jumper just inside the three-point line was good as Stony Brook trailed 15-6.

A three-pointer from Erica Carter and two layups from Juta Juhilo gave the Bearcats a 16-point lead, their biggest of the half, before freshman Samantha Norwood (Perth, Australia) knocked down a jumper from the left side. Norwood's five points in the first half led Stony Brook as it trailed 30-15 at the half.

After two free throws from sophomore Kairsten Nunn (Bowie, Md.), Stony Brook used its M.O. of trapping defense to force three turnovers early in the second half. The Seawolves' pressure defense and a spark from Norwood allowed Stony Brook to cut the lead to just 10 with 13:37 remaining in the game. A basket from Brianna Thompson with 12:40 left was the first Binghamton points of the second half.

Binghamton answered back with a 14-1 run to stretch the lead back up to 21 before a three from Nunn halted the run.

Nunn was the spark for the Seawolves in the second half, scoring all 11 of her points in the final 20 minutes to be named America East player of the game.

Jahilo had 11 points for Binghamton and was named its player of the game.

Stony Brook returns to action on Tuesday evening at the Stony Brook University Arena when it hosts first-place Hartford. Tip-off against the Hawks is slated for 7 pm.