The game was a lot closer than the final double-digit deficit indicated and a lot closer than any of the Bearcats expected.

The Binghamton University women’s basketball team defeated Division II Le Moyne College 66-55 in an exhibition game at the Events Center yesterday. Le Moyne, however, managed to linger around the whole game, never letting the Bearcats pull away and trailing by just two points with four minutes to go in the game.

With 3:59 remaining in regulation, the Bearcats used a three pointer by senior guard Rebecka Lindgren to trigger a game ending 11-2 run that would finally put the game away for good.

“The positive thing is that we won,” said head coach Rich Conover. ”We didn’t play well, to be honest, and we were still able to get a win.”

The Bearcats shined on offense, shooting 54 percent for the game, but looked lost at times on defense, allowing an overachieving Le Moyne team to stay in the game much longer than anyone could have predicted.

“Defense, defense, defense,” said junior forward Brianna Thompson when asked about what the team needed to work on. “We’re gonna kick each other’s butts in practice.”

BU led 37-31 at halftime, but allowed the Dolphins to stay in the game with a series of bad turnovers. Despite looking solid on offense, the Bearcats would finish the game with 24 turnovers compared to just 16 turnovers for Le Moyne.

“I was confused at how poorly we responded to how well Le Moyne played,” Conover said. “I give Le Moyne a great deal of credit — their defensive pressure took us out of a lot of things.”

Thompson and junior center Laine Kurpniece tied for the team lead with 12 points, with Kurpniece adding a game high eight rebounds. Thompson started at the wing position rather than her usual power forward spot and responded extremely well. Junior forward Laura Sario added 11 points and five rebounds, and Lindgren finished with 11 points.

The team played without senior point guard Shea Kenny, who was nursing a foot injury. Conover said that she is day-to-day, but doubtful for the exhibition final against St. Rose on Friday. Her absence was noticeable on the floor.

“She is the leader of our team, and you can see how much we missed her tonight,” Conover said.

The team knows that there is still a lot to be done before the regular season starts next week against Sacred Heart.

“I think we have to get better, and quickly, before we have to take on a very good St. Rose team and a Sacred Heart squad that went to the NCAA tournament last year,” Conover said. “We understand what we have to do with the ball; we just have to take better care of the ball and execute better.”

The game exposed holes that the Bearcats still need to work on, but overall the team was glad that, even when it underachieved, it was able to find a way to win.

“We should have beaten them by more, but I’m really glad we won,” Kurpniece added.