NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y – Maggie McIntyre scored a game-high 24 points, leading Niagara (2-6) to a 79-72 win over Binghamton (5-4) in a non-conference women's basketball game on Wednesday night at the Gallagher Center. The loss snaps the Bearcats two-game winning streak.
Senior forward
Rebecca Carmody finished with a team-high 16 points and 13 rebounds while sophomore forward
Olivia Ramil had career highs in both points (13) and rebounds (14). It marked the second double-double for each player this season.
Also reaching their career highs in scoring were sophomore forward
Kaylee Wasco (13) and freshman guard
Hayley Moore (13). Junior guard
Carly Boland, meanwhile, added 11 points, seven rebounds and a game-high three blocks.
Carmody scored six of her points in the opening quarter as the Bearcats opened up a 15-8 lead. In the second quarter, however, Niagara outscored the Bearcats 24-12 to take a 32-27 lead at the break. The Purple Eagles shot 53 percent (9-of-17) from the field during that stretch.
In the third period, Niagara stretched the lead to as much as 49-36 when Jai Moore drained a three-point field goal with 4:48 remaining. From there, however, the Bearcats went on an 8-0 run capped by back-to-back three pointers by Moore as the deficit shrank to 49-44 with 2:50 left to go.
Down 70-63 with 2:52 left in regulation, Binghamton stormed back to tie the game at 70-70 with 34 seconds remaining. Carmody tied the game with her third three-point field goal of the night.
McIntyre iced the game by draining six free throws the rest of the way.
Jai Moore finished with 12 points for the host team, as did Emerald Ekpiteta and Kharysma Bryant.
Turnovers played a huge roll in the game. The Bearcats committed 21 miscues and Niagara held a 30-14 edge in points off turnovers.
Binghamton returns home to face Rider on Saturday at noon. The game will be followed by the Bearcat men's matchup against Loyola at 2:30 p.m.
NOTES: This marks the second time this season that Binghamton has had five player reach double figures in scoring. The first instance came against Caldwell back on Nov. 18.
