Dec. 1, 2007

Box Score

BINGHAMTON, NY - Carlene Hightower scored a game-high 23 points, but the La Salle University Women's Basketball team could not overcome Binghamton's 50.9% shooting from the floor as the Bearcats won 71-61, Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at the Events Center.

Despite the Bearcats scoring the game's first five points and holding an 8-3 lead 3:30 in, the Explorers scored six straight and used a 10-2 run to take their largest lead of the game at 13-10 after a Hightower lay-up with 11:50 left. A 5-0 Bearcat run was stopped by Meghan Ahl's basket with 10:19 left in the half and tied the game at 15-all.

However, Binghamton then rattled off 10 straight over a four-minute span to take control of the game, as Laine Kurpniece scored four of her team-high 20 points in the run. She was a perfect 5-of-5 in the first half and ended 9-of-10 from the floor and added five rebounds and four assists to her totals.

La Salle would cut the deficit to six points as Hightower scored three straight baskets for the Explorers and had several chances to make it four, but could not capitalize on their chances. Erica Carter hit a short jumper just before the halftime buzzer to give the Bearcats a 31-23 advantage heading into the break.

Out of the locker rooms, the Explorers cut their deficit to just three as Morgan Robertson scored four points during an 8-3 run. That included two made foul shots and when she scored on a put-back off the offensive glass, La Salle trailed 34-31 with 17:32 left.

Binghamton (1-5) responded with a 9-0 run of its own, with Kurpniece starting it with five straight points, pushing the Bearcat lead back to 12 and it was still in double figures with 9:30 left in the game as they matched each Explorer basket with one of their own.

La Salle (3-4) made one last push cutting the Bearcat lead to just five with 7:50 left in the game, with Hightower, Danielle Mickiewicz, and Jamie Walsh all hitting baskets. Hightower's converted free throw made the score 53-48.

The Bearcats, though, held La Salle off the scoreboard for the next five minutes and scored 12 straight points to push their lead back to double figures and kept it there the rest of the way.

Hightower notched her 21st game with at least 20 points in the loss, adding six rebounds and three steals to her totals. She also moved into 19th place on the school's all-time scoring list, now with 1,057 points.

Walsh ended with 12 points - her fourth game in double figures - and added five boards and a team-high three assists. Robertson chipped in seven points and grabbed six boards, as well.