Viive Rebane has seemingly had enough of losing close America East conference games.
The Binghamton University women’s basketball team had lost two consecutive one-point games to University at Albany and University of Maine, so with the Bearcats (11-12, 5-5 AE) holding a five-point second-half lead over Stony Brook University on Wednesday night, the senior took over.
After scoring just six points through the game’s first 32 minutes, Rebane exploded, scoring 10 of Binghamton’s final 15. She started with a jumper from the top of the key and seemingly answered every subsequent response by the Seawolves (4-19, 1-9 AE) to lead Binghamton to a 55-46 victory at the Events Center.
“I felt the whole game that I was not contributing much so I really needed to pick it up,” Rebane said. “But then I didn’t want to make it a one-point game again like the last two we had, so I started to be aggressive and get what the defense gave me.”
While Rebane’s productivity was minimal in the first half, fellow senior Orla O’Reilly carried the team to a 26-23 halftime lead. Two in-and-out shots to start the game did not deter O’Reilly from continuing to shoot, and she proceeded to convert four of her next five attempts to score 11 early points.
Though O’Reilly shouldered the initial scoring load, she also facilitated the offensive flow by efficiently distributing the basketball — two assists and no turnovers — and recording two steals that helped ignite fast breaks. She even found her twin sister, senior Sinead O’Reilly, for a layup after a steal.
“We grew up playing together our whole lives, so, ya know, it’s always nice to get a little twin action going on the court,” Orla said.
For most of the first half, the Bearcats lacked the type of successful chemistry displayed by the O’Reilly twins. Binghamton converted just 37 percent of its field goals, and head coach Nicole Scholl was more displeased with the team’s defense, which allowed Stony Brook to convert on 10 of 22 shot attempts.
Binghamton and Stony Brook exchanged baskets for the first five minutes of the second half, but the Bearcats’ stout defense subsequently forced errant shots and turnovers to help the offense go on a 9-2 spurt and command a 37-29 lead with 11:04 remaining.
Stony Brook responded, however, and trimmed the Binghamton lead to 37-35 with less than nine minutes left.
Then, Binghamton freshman Sherae Swinson nailed a 3-pointer and Rebane proceeded to dominate.
Even as the Seawolves once again cut the Bearcats’ lead, this time to six points, Binghamton quelled the comeback by burying five of its six foul shots in the final two minutes.
Rebane finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and one steal, and Orla O’Reilly added 15 points to go with three assists and three steals.
In the absence of junior Kara Elofson, listed as day-to-day with a shoulder injury, Swinson played 21 minutes. She provided a sturdy defensive post presence and also contributed timely shots, finishing with seven points and six rebounds.
“Unfortunately with Kara being out, we lose that piece,” Scholl said. “But I think Sherae has gotten some valuable minutes and been able to capitalize on that.”
Although the Bearcats turned the ball over three more times than Stony Brook (14-11, 1-9 AE), they efficiently capitalized on the Seawolves’ miscues. Binghamton scored 15 points off turnovers, compared to Stony Brook’s seven points.
“[For] a lot of our scoring we rely on our defense and getting those easy looks,” Scholl said. “With our team, that’s when they start to go, and I thought that’s really when we got into a rhythm with the offense and things started clicking for us.”
The win marked the second time Binghamton has defeated Stony Brook this season. In the first game, the Bearcats held the Seawolves to four second-half field goals and won 44-32.
Binghamton will have another conference rematch in its next game, as Boston University (16-6, 9-0 AE) is set to visit the Events Center tomorrow. Though the Bearcats lost 60-48 in Boston, they trailed by only four points with under six minutes left to play.
Scholl said her team’s effort in the first game combined with Binghamton’s win over Stony Brook should raise the Bearcats’ confidence.
But, Scholl noted, “It’s about our players going out and making plays. If we can defend and get out in transition a little bit and make some plays on offense, we should have success.”
While Binghamton is currently in a four-way tie for third place in the America East, Boston sits atop the conference. But overall this year, the Terriers sport a 6-5 road record.
Tipoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. at the Events Center.