ALBANY, N.Y. – Shereesha Richards scored 20 points and Megan Craig added 18 points, powering first-place Albany (24-3, 14-0 AE) to an 86-35 win over Binghamton (4-22, 1-12 AE) in an America East women's basketball game on Wednesday evening at SEFCU Arena. In the process, the Great Danes tied the America East record with their 37th consecutive conference victory.
The Great Danes took command of the game in the opening seven minutes as they jumped out to an 18-3 lead. Erin Coughlin led Albany with six points during that run.
Binghamton got to within 30-18 on a layup by senior guard Vaneeshia Paulk with 3:24 left in the first half. Albany, however, responded by scoring 10 unanswered points to take a 40-18 lead at the break.
In the second half, the Great Danes picked up where they left off, going on a 16-6 run in the opening 5:38 to take a 56-24 lead. Richards had eight points during that stretch.
Albany's final spurt was a 17-2 blitz in a span of 5:29 to go up 82-33 with 47 seconds left in regulation.
Sophomore guard Kandace Newry led the Bearcats with nine points.
Sarah Royals added 16 points for the Great Danes.
Binghamton heads to Vermont on Saturday for a 2 p.m. game.
NOTES: Richards and Newry were the America East Players of the Game … the Great Danes, who have won the last two America East titles, tied the conference winning streak set by Maine from 1995-97.
