This wasn’t part of the plan.

The Binghamton University women’s basketball team suffered its worst loss of the season at UMBC Wednesday, losing to the Retrievers 63-37. UMBC rode a 32-3 run, which started midway through the first half, to put the game out of reach.

“We’re very disappointed right now,” said head coach Rich Conover in a press release after the game. “Give UMBC credit, we could not handle their zone defense. They had a great game plan and we had no answers for how they came at us.”

The Bearcats (12-7, 5-3 AE) jumped to a quick 10-3 lead behind stellar play from sophomore guard Laura Sario during the first seven minutes, but the team managed to hit just one field goal for the remainder of the game. UMBC (11-8, 3-5 AE) used a stifling zone defense, which did not allow the Bearcats to penetrate and get the ball inside to sophomore center Laine Kurpniece.

“The zone really limited Kurpniece’s touches,” said UMBC head coach Phil Stern. “We tried to keep the ball out of her hands all night.”

With the Bearcats up by seven, UMBC went on a 12-0 run to pull ahead for good. A three-pointer by junior guard Rebecca Lindgren would be all the Bearcats would add in that first half and BU went into the locker room down 30-13.

“We executed real well on both ends of the floor,” Stern said. “That’s one of the best games we’ve played all year. Binghamton’s a very tough team; they’re always well prepared. But just about every button we pushed worked.”

The Bearcats’ struggles continued in the second half as they were outscored 37-24. The game featured their lowest scoring output and lowest shooting percentage (29.2 percent) of the season.

“We didn’t get enough quality shots off inside,” said Conover in a Press & Sun-Bulletin yesterday. “We were kind of relying on the three-pointer.”

Sario was the only Bearcat to score in double figures, notching 14 points. Senior guard Jen Blues added eight points, while Kurpniece scored six. Senior forward Jen Haubrich was held scoreless in 31 minutes, giving her just four points in the last two games.

Senior forward Rachel Laws missed her fifth consecutive game with an ankle injury.

Sophomore forward Amanda Robinson led UMBC with 16 points and eight rebounds.

The loss, which snapped the Bearcats’ two-game winning streak, is their first ever in three games at UMBC.

BU will return home to the Events Center tomorrow to face the Maine Black Bears at 1 p.m. The Bearcats opened up conference play with a 66-56 win at Maine (6-13, 2-6 AE) last month. Laws led the team with 24 points in that contest, but it is once again unknown if she will suit up.