Binghamton University Athletics

A native of Newburgh, N.Y., Leah Truncale played basketball at Binghamton from 1998-02. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in human development in 2002.

A gifted athlete at both ends of the floor, Truncale played a key role in the program’s successful transition to NCAA Division II and then Division I. She compiled school-record totals of 978 rebounds and 236 blocks and ranks fourth all-time with 1,341 career points. Truncale churned out double-doubles on a nightly basis (school-record 41) and nearly averaged one for her career (12.9 points, 9.4 rebounds).

As a freshman, Truncale’s Bearcats went 26-4 in the team’s NCAA Division II debut, winning the New England Collegiate Conference title and gaining an NCAA berth. She started all 30 games and averaged 13.3 points and 8.9 rebounds with 11 double-doubles. Truncale shot a team-best 55 percent, ranked 22nd in the nation with 66 blocks and was named NECC Rookie of the Year.

As a sophomore, Truncale recorded a conference-high 10 double-doubles and BU went 27-2 overall (16-0 in conference) en route to a commanding ECAC Division II crown. She averaged 11.0 points and 9.6 rebounds and the 17th-ranked Bearcats finished withthe nation’s fourth-longest win streak. She made three in-season all-tournament teams and repeated as a conference all-star.

One year later, Truncale again led the team in rebounding and blocks and the Bearcats parlayed a 22-7 record into a second-straight runaway ECAC championship. She averaged 13.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks and her blocks total ranked 16th in the nation. In the ECAC title game, Truncale poured in 21 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and three steals. She became just the third Bearcat to eclispe the 1,000-point scoring mark in her junior season.

In her senior season — the program’s first at Division I — she was nearly unstoppable in the post before an injury shortened her season to 16 games. Truncale led the conference in rebounding and was third in scoring with a double-double average of 15.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. She was awarded BU’s Jessie Godfrey Award in 2002 following her final season.

Binghamton went 94-22 (81%) during her four-year tenure, including an incredible 46-4 at home, and advanced to the postseason every year. She started 103 of 104 collegiate games.