The only thing worse than trailing by 27 points after one half might be losing by 36 points after two halves.
Binghamton University fell to host Liberty University, 76-40, in a non-conference women’s basketball game in Lynchburg, Va., on Saturday. It was Binghamton’s worst loss in Division I history. The Bearcats shot just 34 percent, including two-for-14 from 3-point range, and have just one win in their first eight games.
‘[Liberty] played very good defense,’ said BU head coach Rich Conover. ‘We’re also not as comfortable shooting on the road yet.’
BU sophomore point guard Muffy Sadler had a team-high eight points, which included BU’s only two 3-pointers.
The Bearcats tried a different number of line-ups, most of which did not include Laine Kurpniece, a selection to the America East Preseason All-Conference team, as she played only five minutes.
The Bearcats could not stop Liberty, which, at 8-1, is off to its best start since going undefeated in the 1997-1998 regular season. The Flames are as hot as their team name: they shot 63 percent and extended their winning streak to five games, which includes a 100-29 rout of Virginia Union in their home opener.
Liberty blew the contest wide open in the first half with a nearly six-minute, 15-0 run that put them up 36-11 with 1:57 to play. The Flames led 40-13 at the break ‘ their halftime score equaled BU’s final score.
‘Defense is an area we need to work on,’ Conover said. ‘Today was the ultimate example of that and now we’re committed to getting better.’
Defense has been a problem for the Bearcats throughout the season. They have given up an average of 65.8 points per game, 9.3 more points than they average on offense. Saturday was a season record on both ends: 76 is the most points Binghamton has allowed and 40 is the fewest it has scored.
Conover was looking to draw something positive away from a game that had him playing his bench most of the final 20 minutes.
‘We showed more intensity in the second half, so that is something to stay positive about,’ he said.
The Bearcats conclude their three-game road trip at Big East power Villanova in a non-conference game at 7.p.m. Thursday.
‘We know it will be a tough game,’ Conover said about facing the Wildcats. ‘We are going to go out there and compete.’
The Bearcats will open a five-game home stand on Dec. 16 against Colgate of the Patriot League.
All of Binghamton’s losses have come away from the Events Center this season. BU was 11-2 at home last season, and is 1-1 to start this season.