After three weeks of disappointing outcomes, the winless Binghamton University women’s basketball team is finally glad to be back in the rolling hills of Vestal as it gears up to face Bucknell at the Events Center on Wednesday night.

‘The road has [not] been good to us,’ said BU head coach Rich Conover. ‘Hopefully this game will turn things around.’

To say that the Bearcats (0-4) have had it rough away from home would be an understatement, and they’re going to need to work harder than ever after this tough start to live up to their third-place selection in the America East preseason poll once conference play eventually rolls around.

Although individually certain Bearcats have thrived (with junior Laura Franceski netting her career-high against Canisius and senior Laine Kurpniece reaching 15th place all time in school history in career points against Sacred Heart), the team has had trouble getting on the same page

According to Conover, the Bearcats still ‘need to come together as a team’ and learn to stay consistent throughout games.

But the Bisons aren’t going to wait for that to happen. Bucknell (1-4) beat the Bearcats in a 65-64 heartbreaker last season and went on to finish the 2006-2007 season with a 20-9 record, including a 12-2 mark in Patriot League play. With assertive players like Amanda Brown and Hope Foster, Bucknell is talented again this season, but they too have been off to a rocky start.

Bucknell has lost to St. Bonaventure, a team that also defeated Binghamton, and most recently to Cornell, 74-63 in Ithaca on Sunday.

As for the Bearcats, they’re happy to finally see some friendly faces.

‘We are just looking forward to it,’ said Conover. ‘It [is] going to be nice to be among great fans and a great atmosphere again.’

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Events Center. Binghamton then hosts La Salle on Saturday at 2 p.m.