VESTAL, NY–Binghamton had four players score in double-figures, defeating visiting NJIT 65-55 in women's basketball America East Conference action inside The Dr. Bai Lee Court.
Binghamton has now won two in a row, moving to 14-12 overall, 6-7 in the America East while NJIT, who entered the game winners of three straight, had its three game skid snapped, moving to 10-16 overall, 7-6 in the league.
NJIT led by six-points at the halfway point, 37-31, but it was Binghamton that outscored the Highlanders in the third quarter 23-9 to push ahead by as many as eight, 54-46, and held the lead by five or more points in the fourth quarter to secure the win 65-55.
The Highlanders were paced by eight-time America East Rookie of the Week Olivia Kulyk with 14 points and nine rebounds while reigning America East Player of the Week Alejandra Zuniga scored 10 points.
NJIT used a 7-0 run over the last 4:14 of the first quarter to take a four-point lead, 21-14, led by Olivia Kulyk's team-best eight points.
The Highlanders continued its momentum into the second quarter scoring the first nine points and used a 21-5 spurt over a span of 9:02 for a 13-point lead, 30-17. The Bearcats cut the deficit to 10 points, 33-23, with less than three minutes to play. A three-pointer at the top of the arc by Kulyk put the Highlanders ahead 36-23 at the 2:45 mark. Binghamton rallied back and used a 9-1 run over the span of the final 2:42, including a three-pointer by Yanniah Boyd from the logo to slim the Highlander lead to six, 37-31, at the half.
Olivia Kulyk led NJIT with 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from three-point range to go along with four rebounds followed by Trinity Williams and Alejandra Zuniga who chipped in six points. Binghamton's Bella Pucci scored a team-best 11 points in the opening 20 minutes.
Binghamton took control of the third quarter from start to finish, outscoring NJIT, 23-9, including 14 straight over the last 4:30 for a 54-46 advantage.
The Bearcats led by as many as eight, 56-48, at the eight minute mark of the fourth quarter and after a free throw by Madilyn Dogs at the 5:59 mark neither team scored for 3:30 until Alejandra Zuniga knocked down a pair of free throws, cutting the lead to five, 56-51 at the 2:37 mark. The Bearcats closed out the game on a 9-4 run to secure a 65-56 victory over visiting NJIT.
The Bearcats were led by Yanniah Boyd's game-high 16 points followed by Bella Pucci (13), Jadyn Weltz (11) and Kendall Bennett (11) and a game-best 16 rebounds.
Next Up
NJIT will have a bye game next Thursday and close out its home regular season slate on Saturday, February 22 at 1pm. In pregame ceremonies, NJIT will honor its graduate students – Enya Maguire and Aria Myers in addition to seniors Trinity Williams and Reese Vaughan.
Stay Connected
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