The Binghamton women's basketball team (0-1) opened up its 2016-17 campaign with a 67-57 setback against Bucknell (1-0) in a non-conference game on Friday evening at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center. The game came against a Bison squad favored to win the Patriot League title and currently ranked No. 20 in CollegeInsider.com's Mid-Major Poll.
 
Junior guard Imani Watkins, who was named to the America East Preseason All-Conference Team, lived up to her billing, pouring in a game-high 26 points. She drained six three-point field goals in the process.
 
Watkins now has 929 career points, moving into 17th place in Binghamton program history. Against Bucknell, she surpassed Kim Albrecht (907 points from 2012-16), Jen Gaeta (918 points from 1992-94) and Reagan Stevens (923 points from 1993-97). In addition, Watkins now has 16 career games with at least 20 points.
 
Freshman guard Kai Moon scored 13 points in her debut. She made a trio of three-point field goals and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
 
Binghamton hung tough through three periods, trailing by only 52-48. In the first 3:24 of the fourth period, however, the Bison went on a 9-2 run to go up 61-52. Claire Deboer, the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year, had four points during that stretch.
 
Later in the period, Bucknell scored six unanswered points to go up 67-53 with 1:35 left to go
 
Stewart Slune led the Bison with 25 points while Kaitlyn Slagus turned in a 17-point, 16 rebound performance. Deboer, meanwhile, finished with 12 points.
 
The Bison controlled the lane, finishing with a 40-12 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Sophomore forward Rebecca Carmody grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds for the Bearcats, marking the sixth time in her career that she has reached double figures. Junior center Alyssa James added eight points, four rebounds, a pair of blocks and three steals.
 
Freshman forward Karlee Krchnavi added seven rebounds.

As a team, the Bearcats turned the ball over just nine times.
 
"Bucknell is an unbelievably talented team and they are picked to win their conference," head coach Linda Cimino said. "I think we held our own against a very good team and I am proud of how we competed. They are one of the best teams on our schedule this year. We didn't come out with the victory but we played well and saw a lot of good things from our freshmen."

Binghamton heads to Yale on Sunday for a 2 p.m. game.