With a matchup with first-place Boston University coming up and the America East Tournament following soon after, momentum is vital for the Binghamton University women’s basketball team. Tomorrow the Bearcats will look to continue their current three-game winning streak when they host the Vermont Catamounts.
In their last matchup on Jan. 23, the Bearcats defeated the Catamounts in overtime by a final score of 55-51. Since that time, the two squads have headed in opposite directions. Binghamton (16-8, 9-2 AE) has won three of its last four games, while Vermont (3-21, 3-8 AE) has lost three of its last four.
Binghamton currently sits alone in second place in the America East Conference. It is one game behind Boston University and only a half-game in front of UMBC. Although Vermont is only in seventh place, the Bearcats can’t afford to take the Catamounts lightly, especially considering that it took an overtime for them to get the win the last time they met. With the America East tournament looming less than a month away on March 3, every conference game is more important than the previous one.
2010-11 has been a historic season for the Bearcats. With a win tomorrow, the team would match the program’s second-highest win total (17 wins) at the Division I level, which was set during the 2003-04 season. With five more games to play this season, Binghamton has a chance to best the program’s highest win total in a season, 19 wins, which was set in 2001-02, the team’s first year in Division I.
Last Sunday’s home victory against New Hampshire also had historic ramifications for the Bearcats. Binghamton tallied its 10th consecutive victory at the Events Center, tying the school’s longest Division I home winning streak. The previous streak was set between Feb. 20, 2005 and Jan. 11, 2006.
Many of the Bearcats are also racking up accolades with all the success the team has had. On Monday, junior forward Viive Rebane was named America East Player of the Week for the second time this season. Freshman forward Jasbriell Swain’s exceptional play was also recognized on Monday when she was awarded America East Rookie of the Week for the fourth time this season, matching teammate Andrea Holmes’ total as the most by any Bearcat in program history.
Rebane, Swain and Holmes have been firing on all cylinders all season long. Holmes has helped lead the team to its 16 wins with her 14.8 points per game and 3.7 assists per game. Rebane was responsible for Sunday’s win against New Hampshire when she scored a career-high 22 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for her 10th career double-double. Swain, who is fifth in the conference with 7.8 rebounds per game, has recorded 44 rebounds over the past three games. She leads all rookies in rebounds and steals per game and is second among freshmen in points per game and assists.
Despite how well they’ve played on the offensive end, it’s been the Bearcats’ defensive play that has propelled them to success. Binghamton has limited opponents to 54.9 points per game, which leads the conference and ranks 24th in the country. They’ve also held each of their last three opponents to 30 percent shooting or less from the field. They’ve held opponents to 35.2 percent shooting on the season, which ranks 23rd in the country.
The Bearcats come into Saturday’s contest averaging 59.1 points per game. Vermont, on the other hand, is only averaging 46.7 points per game and has allowed an average of 67.0 opponent points per game on the season.
Although they only managed eight field goals in last Wednesday’s 43-32 loss to UMBC, the Catamounts have a couple of key players that the Bearcats have to keep an eye on. Seniors Tonya Young and Lauren Buschmann have combined for 21 of the team’s 46 points per game. Sophomore Lauren Wheeler also contributes 6.8 points per game, while Kristine Lalonde leads the team with 3.2 assists per game.
Binghamton is set to tip off against Vermont at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Events Center.