BALTIMORE, Md. – Host Loyola (1-1) scored the final eight points of the game to pull out a 77-73 win over Binghamton (1-2) in a non-conference women's basketball game on Sunday evening at Reitz Arena. The game marked the first road contest of the year for the Bearcats.

The Greyhounds' late-game heroics overshadowed a historic performance by redshirt sophomore guard Ella Wanzer. She scored 36 points, going 12-for-14 from the field, 7-of-9 from three-point range and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.

Wanzer's scoring total tied for the fourth-best mark in the 51-year history of the Binghamton women's basketball program. It also tied the most points scored by a Bearcat player since the program moved up to the NCAA Division I level in 2001. Imani Watkins had 36 points against Cornell on Dec. 18, 2017 and Kai Moon scored 36 points against Lafayette on Nov. 8, 2019.

The all-time program record of 38 points is shared by Jen Gaeta (against Postdam on Dec. 10, 1993) and Bess Greenberg (against Franklin Pierce on Feb. 27, 1999). Gaeta also poured in 37 points against Fredonia on Feb. 24, 1994.

Wanzer's seven three-point field goals also ties the fourth-best performance in Binghamton program history. It is the highest total since Erica Carter nailed a program-best nine three pointers against Bryant on Dec. 7, 2009.
Wanzer had been struggling earlier in the week with her three-point shooting but broke out of her slump in a big way against Loyola.

"I told Ella before the game that everyone now expects her to drive down the lane but that she should catch (the ball), shoot it and just to do her job," head coach Bethann Shapiro Ord said. "When that first three went in, I knew she was going to be fine. It was great to see her have the success that she did tonight."

Graduate student guard Denai Bowman finished with 13 points, a rebound, three assists, two blocks and three steals. She shot 6-for-12 from the field.

In a back-and-fourth game with six ties and 10 lead changes, the Bearcats appeared to have the momentum when freshman forward Kendall Bennett hit an open jumper, giving the Bearcats a 73-69 lead with 2:59 left in regulation.

Kelly Raitgan, however, hit a three-point field goal on the ensuing possession, trimming the Bearcat led to 73-72 with 2:36 remaining. After a Bearcat miss, Lex Theiren converted a three-point play, giving Loyola a 75-73 lead with 1:56 left to go.

Neither team scored on their next two possessions until Theiren iced the game on a layup with six seconds to go.

"This was a game when both teams went back and forth and it came down to a couple of possessions at the end of the game when we weren't disciplined on defense," Shapiro Ord said. "These back-and-forth games are decided by little things, such as missed boxouts and mistakes on defense and that's what happened tonight."

Theiren led Loyola with 22 points while Ratigan added 17 points.

Both teams shot over 50 percent from the field. The Bearcats were 27-of-49 (55 percent) while the Greyhounds hit 30 of their 53 shots (56 percent).

Led by Wanzer, the Bearcats went 11-of-17 from three-point range (64 percent). Loyola, meanwhile, was 6-for-12 (.500).

Loyola, however, held a commanding 44-24 lead in points scored in the paint.

Binghamton returns home to face St. Bonaventure on Saturday at 1 p.m.

NOTES: The 11 three-point field goals represent the most by Binghamton since it made 13 against Mansfield on Nov. 23, 2021. The program record of 17 three-point field goals came against Cortland on Nov. 13, 2017.