VESTAL, N.Y. - Junior guard Bella Pucci banked in the game-winner at the buzzer to lift third-seeded Binghamton women's basketball (19-11) past sixth-seeded Bryant (18-12) 45-44 in an Air Force Reserve America East quarterfinal game Thursday night at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center.

The dramatic win set off a euphoric celebration amid the fans who saw the Bearcats improve to 4-1 in home quarterfinal games. Binghamton now advances to face second-seeded Maine in a Monday night semifinal in Orono. 

The Bearcats trailed 44-43 after Bryant hit a go-ahead bucket with 5.8 seconds remaining. After a Binghamton timeout, Pucci got the inbounds at the top of the key and began a drive to her left. She worked around a double-team and turned the corner near the baseline as the clock and Binghamton's season wound down. With one second left, she rose and released a one-handed floater from seven feet that kissed high off the glass and through the hoop as the horn sounded.

Pucci's heroics ended a grind-it-out defensive battle that featured four ties and seven lead changes. Neither team led by more than seven points in the trilogy between the two teams, who split the season series. Binghamton's win also avenged last year's quarterfinal loss to the same Bulldogs. 

"Players make plays and Bella took it to the basket, focused and finished," head coach Mary Grimes said of the winning shot. "It was back and forth and that's what America East basketball is all about. It was an unbelievable game. For women's basketball to be where it is ... to have our loyal community, who show up every time ... that's special. But the student body made a huge difference tonight. Credit to our staff and administration. These women deserve to play in front of crowds like that ... it was an awesome environment." 

The boisterous student section wreaked havoc on Bryant free throw shooters, who missed half their shots into a wall of white shirts (5-of-10).   

Binghamton didn't have a double-digit scorer but all seven players registered points, led by Pucci and junior guard Leah Middleton, who tallied nine apiece. Junior forward Kendall Bennett added eight rebounds and three steals.