VESTAL, N.Y. – Junior guard Imani Watkins scored a game-high 17 points and freshman guard Kai Moon added 13 points, leading Binghamton (10-11, 5-3 AE) to a 58-52 win over Maine (11-12 (4-4 AE) in an America East women's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center. With the victory, the Bearcats complete the first half of conference play having won two of their past three games and move into a three-way tie for second place.

Watkins, who scored 12 of her points in the fourth quarter, also added four assists and three steals. Moon, who scored 11 of her points in the first half, also had five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

In holding the Black Bears to only 52 points, the Bearcats got solid defensive performances by junior center Alyssa James and senior forward Kristin Ross. James grabbed a game-high 11 points and tied a season-high with six blocks. She also had three steals and seven points. In addition to recording three rebounds, a block and steal, Ross was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field to finish with six points.

"I am very proud of our team," head coach Linda Cimino said. "It was an unbelievable team effort especially on the defensive end. We have been in a lot of games at the end that have been close this year and it was great that we came through at the end."
It was Watkins who nailed the game-changing shot with 2:29 left in regulation. The score was tied at 50-50 when she buried an open three-point shot, giving the Bearcats the lead for good.

The Black Bears were within 54-52 with 25 seconds remaining when Binghamton made the defensive play of the game. Sigi Koizar, who was a first-team all-conference selection last year and scored a team-best 14 points, drove to the hoop, hoping to either draw contact or make the go-ahead layup. The Bearcats, however, got excellent position on Koizar and drew a charge.

At the other end of the court, Binghamton made four of their six free throw attempts to ice the game. Moon converted the final two shots with just a second left in regulation.

In the decisive fourth quarter, Binghamton shot 46 percent (5-of-11) and held Maine to just 33 percent (3-of-9). The Black Bears did not make a field goal during the final 4:11 of the game.

Bianca Millan added 12 points for Maine.

The Bearcats as a team came away with 11 steals and scored 21 of their points off of turnovers.

Binghamton begins the second half of America East play with a Wednesday game at UMBC. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

NOTES: James now has eight career games with at least five blocks and 13 games with 10 or more rebounds … for the game, the Bearcats shot 40 percent (21-of-53).