Feb. 27, 2008

Box Score

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Down 73-70, freshman Misha Horsey (Wyncote, Pa) drove the lane and dished off to freshman Kirsten Jeter (Elmont, N.Y.) for a layup at the buzzer as the Stony Brook women's basketball team fell to Binghamton, 73-72 at the Stony Brook Arena on Wednesday night. Stony Brook is 6-20, 1-12 in America East play while Binghamton is 10-16, 8-5.

"We didn't execute when we needed to," head coach Michele Cherry said. "We made a tremendous comeback down nine with 1:30 left and we put ourselves in a position to win but we just didn't execute."

With 2:34 left in the second half, Brianna Thompson hit a jumper from the right side to make the score, 70-60. Following a free throw from senior Cheri Davis (Islip Terrace, N.Y.), Stony Brook had the benefit of four consecutive missed free throws from Binghamton's Jackie Ward. Jeter and freshman Jodie Plikus (Waterford, Conn.) would connect on jumpers to cut the deficit to five, 70-65 with 1:03 remaining. After a missed three from Erica Carter, Horsey converted two free throws after being fouled. Laura Sario would get the lead back up to five for Binghamton after two free throws before Plikus hit a clutch three with 10 seconds left to make it a 72-70 game. Thompson was immediately fouled on the inbounds pass, but would make just one of two free throws. After the second shot was long, Jeter grabbed the rebound and passed off to Horsey who made her drive down the floor as time expired.

Play began evenly to start the game before Binghamton took a five-point lead after a layup from Laine Kurpniece. Stony Brook answered back, going on an 11-0 spurt helped by six points from senior Aly Young (Lodi, Calif.). Binghamton answered back, taking a 20-19 lead with 7:01 left in the first half.

The first half ended with two ties and two lead changes as Binghamton had a 31-30 halftime advantage.

Jeter's three-point play tied the score at 33 after a frenzied sequence. The Seawolves had three offensive rebounds off misses before Jeter tied the score. Binghamton got hot however, taking a 47-36 lead after utilizing a 14-3 run. Stony Brook wouldn't go quietly, tying the score at 48 with 9:27 remaining.

Freshman Samantha Norwood hit two free throws to make the score 51-50 with 8:29 left in the second half, but Binghamton quickly countered with a 9-1 run to take a nine-point lead, 60-51, with 6:03 remaining. Binghamton took its second and third double-digit lead of the game after Sario's free throws and Thompson's basket, respectively, with 2:34 left in the game.

Plikus' career-high 15 points earned her America East Player of the Game honors. Jeter added 14 points and seven rebounds and Young had 12 points, all coming in the first half.

Sario was the game's high scorer with 23 points and she got Binghamton's nod for conference player of the game. Kurpniece had 15 points and Laura Franceski added 13.

Stony Brook faces Boston University on Saturday afternoon at 4:30 pm in a doubleheader with the men's basketball team. The men's team faces Binghamton at 2 pm with the game being televised on MSG. For tickets and more information, please call (631) 632-WOLF.