BOSTON ‘ It was a movie script ending for Boston University on Wednesday night, and the Terriers’ last-second victory might have sent the Bearcats postseason hopes to the Temple of Doom.
Boston University senior guard Erica Kovach sank a game-winning layup with seven seconds remaining in the second half to give Boston University a 72-70 victory over the Binghamton women’s basketball team (10-18 6-9 America East) at Case Gym.
The Terriers (15-14 7-9 AE) led 68-60 with 2:50 remaining in the second half before Bearcat guards freshman Erica Carter and senior Shea Kenny hit consecutive 3-pointers to ignite a 10-2 Bearcats run. Senior forward Laine Kurpniece hit a pair of free throws with 30 seconds to go to tie the score at 70.
After Kovach’s layup, Binghamton had one last chance, but Laura Sario missed a 3-pointer as time expired.
‘I thought we got down and made a great run to tie it. We just couldn’t pick up a loose ball,’ said Binghamton head coach Rich Conover.
With the Bearcats leading 60-50 midway through the second half, Boston went on an 18-0 run led by Amarachi Umez-Eroni, who scored 11 of her season-high 22 points during the run.
Kurpniece registered her second consecutive double-double, 13 points with 11 boards. Carter, starting in place of injured guard Rebecka Lindgren, led Binghamton’s scoring with a collegiate-best 18 points. The Bearcats shot a season-best 18-for-19 from the free-throw line.
Lindgren, who injured her ankle during practice, was kept out of the game for precautionary reasons. She’s day-to-day, said Conover, who is unsure whether she will play Saturday against New Hampshire.
Carter’s play was encouraging for the Bearcats, who now know they have a vital weapon on their bench.
‘I thought Erica really stepped up and made some big, big shots for us tonight,’ Conover said.
The loss drops the Bearcats into a tie with UMBC for sixth place in the nine-team America East. Heading into its final game of the season Saturday against New Hampshire, the Bearcats can finish anywhere from third to seventh.
A win is now imperative against New Hampshire tomorrow, as the Bearcats hope to be in the top half of the bracket heading into the conference tournament next weekend at the Events Center.
New Hampshire is guaranteed to be playing Albany in the play-in game, so the Wildcats do not have as much riding on the outcome as the Bearcats. A Bearcat win guarantees nothing for them as UMBC defeated Binghamton twice during the regular season. The Retrievers have a tough task ahead of them, though, hosting first-place Hartford. Maine, ranked one spot ahead of Binghamton, takes on second-place Stony Brook.
Vermont can clinch third place with a win over last-place Albany, but should the Danes pull the upset, the Bearcats do hold tie-breakers against Vermont thanks to two victories over the Catamounts this season.
A loss leaves the Bearcats in seventh place and gives them a first round date with one of the two conference powerhouses, Stony Brook or Hartford; the Bearcats know they must win at any cost.
‘Obviously this becomes such a huge game,’ Conover said. ‘We just need to go into the tournament on a positive note.’
Game time is set for 1 p.m. at the Events Center.