University of Albany Women's Basketball Cruises to 80-60 Win Over Binghamton in America East Play

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Sherri Mikus and TaNika Thrower each scored 15 points to place five players in double figures in leading UAlbany to an 80-60 win over Binghamton in America East Conference women's basketball action on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at SEFCU Arena.

Binghamton (6-13, AE 4-2) scored the first points of the game on a 3-pointer by Erica Carter, but it would be the only lead the Bearcats would hold. UAlbany tied the game with a trey by Thrower on the next possession, and took the lead at 17:51 on a jumper in the paint by Charity Iromuanya. The Great Danes built up an 8-point lead, 15-7, with 15:33 in the game on a shot from beyond the arc by Kristin Higy, who would finish with 12 points for UAlbany. Carter dropped another three of her own on the ensuing Binghamton possession to cut the lead to five, but the Great Danes would continue to add to their lead, taking a 12-point advantage at 10:37 on a Mikus bucket.

Binghamton cut the lead back to single digits on two free throws by Muffy Sadler at 7:17, but UAlbany would outscore the Bearcats 12-1 over the remainder of the first half to take a 42-21 advantage into the locker room.

The Great Danes took over again to start the second period, building up a 24-point lead, 47-23 on a 3-pointer by Iromuanya. Binghamton continued to push a comeback, pulling within 18 on Carter’s third trey of the game with 10:27 left to play. An Amira Ford layup at 6:24 gave UAlbany a 71-48 advantage. The Bearcats would get to within 17 on two free throws by Darryll Peterson with 4:33 on the clock, but they would get no closer.

Free throws by Kirsten Peterson and Ashley Lindsay down the stretch would build back the 20-point advantage, and a steal by Kim Clements with seven seconds remaining sealed the win for the Great Danes.

“This was a must-win for us,” said Mikus, who started her third straight game for UAlbany. “We lost a game against UMBC that we knew we should have won, and this win was step one of digging ourselves out of the hole we got ourselves into with that loss. We needed this momentum heading into the weekend with the Big Purple Growl coming up on Saturday.”

UAlbany (5-14, AE 3-3) received 10 points and five assists from Britney McGee. Iromuanya added 13 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Great Danes. She also went 2-for-2 from behind the arc, helping the Great Danes to 54.5-percent (6-of-11) from 3-point land. Senior Gia Sanders, who returned to the court for UAlbany after missing the last two games with injury, and contributed three steals and a block, along with three points and two boards in 20 minutes of action.

“We had a great team effort,” said UAlbany head coach Trina Patterson, whose team shot a season-best 50.8-percent (32-of-63) from the floor. “I have said that I think we are the most athletic team in the conference. When we start flying around like we did tonight on offense and defense, the sky is the limit with what we can accomplish. This was a very good win for us.”

Carter paced Binghamton with 14 points, while center Laine Kurpniece added 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Juta Jahilo finished eight points for the Bearcats.