VESTAL, N.Y. – No. 3 Binghamton women's basketball (18-11, 10-6 AE) gets set to host their first America East playoff game since 2020, when they takes on No. 6 Bryant (18-11, 8-8 AE) Thursday at 6:07 p.m. at the Events Center.
QUARTERFINAL TRILOGY
For the third straight year, Binghamton and Bryant will go head-to-head to determine who will advance in the America East Air Force Reserve Women's Basketball tournament. In the first showdown, No. 5 Binghamton claimed victory at No. 4 Bryant, 56-51, behind a 24-point performance from Denai Bowman.
In last year's matchup, No. 3 Bryant would claim its redemption in a tight 66-63 victory over No. 6 Binghamton. Six Bearcats return from last year's quarterfinals loss vs. Bryant. Binghamton's top performers from last year's game were
Kendall Bennett (19 PTS, 5 REB),
Bella Pucci (11 PTS, 3 REB), and
Yanniah Boyd (11 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST).
Binghamton will host the trilogy at the Events Center and will look to advance to the semifinal as the No. 3 seed.
INSIDE THIS YEAR'S MATCHUP
The two sides split the season series by each taking road victories in this year's matchup. At Bryant, Binghamton claimed the victory in a thrilling 66-64 overtime victory, after the bearcats came back from a 20-point deficit to win the first matchup.
In Vestal, Bryant redeems themselves by stealing a victory from Binghamton at the Events Center, 63-60.
In the two games played this season, a single point in Bryant's favor separates the two sides in total scoring. Four Bearcats are averaging double-digit points, with
Kendall Bennett averaging 10 rebounds in the series.
Bella Pucci and
Meghan Casey have a combined 9-for-17 from 3FG, shooting just over 50% from beyond the arc.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Since joining the America East in 2001-02, Binghamton is 8-23 all-time in tournament play. The Bearcats are 8-15 in the quarterfinal round and 0-8 in the semis, never making it to the championship game.
The Bearcats are the No. 3 seed for the tournament playoffs for the first time since 2018. In that year, they played No. 6 Hartford in Portland, Maine, where the Bearcats fell 72-68 in OT. Binghamton is 1-3 as the No. 3 seed.
When competing at home, the Bearcats have a record of 3-3 in the tournament. (quarterfinals: 3-1, semifinals: 0-2.) Every loss has been to the top-seeded team in the tournament.
