Losing a star player could derail the season of even the best teams. Then again, it could allow other players to step up as they beat an archrival by 21 points.
The Binghamton University women’s basketball team won its second straight game Sunday, defeating Albany (5-13, 1-6 AE) 70-49 at the Events Center. The Bearcats (12-6, 5-2 AE), who played without star Rachel Laws for the fourth consecutive time, opened the game with an 18-3 lead.
“We wanted to try to set the tone on the defensive end and really take it to Albany early,” said head coach Rich Conover. “We felt like we wanted to establish our presence here at home and I thought we did a great job of that early on.”
Sophomore guard Laura Sario, who has started in place of Laws, scored 15 points and hit all six of her shot attempts from the field. There is no timetable for Laws’ return, but the team is very confident in Sario’s ability to fill the void.
“I think Laura has played outstanding in Rachel’s absence,” Conover said. “She’s been a consistent scoring threat, a great defender. She’s been very aggressive on the offensive end, filling Rachel’s shoes from a scoring standpoint.”
The Bearcats’ attack was also led by sophomore center Laine Kurpniece, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Jen Blues added 14 points, giving her 923 for her career, 10th best on the school’s all-time list.
“I think that Rich has done a great job, the team has come along really well,” said Albany head coach Trina Patterson. “They move the ball well, they play solid defense. I thought today our team got in a hole too quickly.”
Albany attempted to keep the game close midway through the second half with an 8-1 run, cutting the lead to nine points. But Kurpniece delivered five unanswered points, ending any threat of a comeback.
“We worried a little I think,” Blues said. “If they had hit a big three we would have been more worried but we went on a little run there and it was pretty key for us.”
Albany was led by local product Jen Schumacher, who scored 13 points in her final visit to Binghamton.
The Bearcats hit the road tomorrow to take on the UMBC Retrievers. The Retrievers currently sit in seventh place in the America East, but the Bearcats can’t take any game lightly.
“I feel like the toughest part of the season is ahead of us,” Sario said. “We love the court here and the people who come to see us play. I think it’s much tougher on the road.”
Injury Update:
Senior forward Rachel Laws missed her fourth consecutive game with a sprained ankle Sunday at the Events Center.
There remains no time table on Rachel’s return but it appears unlikely that she will suit up for tomorrow’s game against UMBC.
“It’s day to day and when she’s healthy she’s going to play,” said head coach Rich Conover. “That’s not my call, the sports medicine staff is doing a great job with Rachel and it’s just one of those things that physically take longer than others.”
The Bearcats are 2-2 without Laws this season. They also defeated Stony Brook on Jan. 11 after Laws suffered the injury three minutes into the game.
Sophomore guard Laura Sario will again start in Rachel’s place. Sario has filled in capably, averaging 13.4 points in the past five games.