VIDEO: Post Game Wrap Up & Highlights w/ ESPN+ Nick DeLuca and Head Coach Mike Lane
NEWARK, NJ–Binghamton scored 45 second-half points after being down by as many as 17 en route to a 75-71 comeback victory over NJIT Saturday afternoon in America East women's basketball action inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
Binghamton moves to 9-5 overall, 1-0 in the America East while the Highlanders stand at 10-5 overall, 1-1 in the league.
The Highlanders led by as many as 17 early in the third quarter but the Bearcats cut the deficit to single digits at the end of three quarters, 60-51, and outscored the Highlanders in the fourth quarter, 24-11 to secure the comeback victory in America East action.
NJIT had four players in double-digits led by Olivia Kulyk (20), Alejandra Zuniga (19), Marissa Gingrich (13) and Ava Locklear (12) who also combined for her fourth double-double of the season.
The 14 rebounds for Locklear are two shy of her personal-best mark (16 at Monmouth; 12/3/25) while Zuniga set a new personal-best mark, dishing out eight assists.
NJIT started off the game in control, opening the game on a 16-5 run led by Marissa Gingrich with seven points. Binghamton scored back-to-back buckets resulting in an early timeout by the Highlanders for a 16-9 score at the 2:12 mark. An old-fashioned three-point play by Mackenzie Wright-Rawls put the Highlanders ahead by 10, 21-11, at the end of the first quarter.
The Highlanders used a 9-2 spurt to open the second quarter for a 13-point advantage 30-17 on after a defensive rebound and put-back by Allison Cannon at the 6:07 mark. Binghamton cut the Highlander deficit to 10, 34-24, at the 3:01 mark but the Highlanders would close out the quarter on an 11-6 spurt for a 15-point lead, 45-30, after the first 20 minutes.
NJIT shot 50 percent from three-point range (7-for-14) and from the field (17-for-34) in the first half.
Marissa Gingrich and Ava Locklear led all players with 10 points each in the first 20 while Olivia Kulyk and Alejandra Zuniga each combined for nine points each.
Both teams traded points to start the third stanza early as Olivia Kulyk extended the Highlanders lead to 15, 54-39, at the 6:10 mark. The Bearcats rallied back and went on an 8-2 run, including a four-point play at the end of the quarter to cut the Highlanders deficit to single digits, 60-51.
Binghamton continued its momentum into the fourth quarter with a 12-3 start to the quarter, cutting the lead to one, 63-62, on a pair of free throws at the 3:42 mark. Olivia Kulyk knocked down an and-one at the 3:24 mark to put NJIT ahead, 66-62 but the Bearcats scored eight straight points and took its first lead of the game, 70-66, with 1:20 to go.
NJIT pulled within two with twenty seconds to play on a jumper in the paint by Zuniga but it was the Bearcats who connected from the free throw line, sinking four straight at the end to hold onto the 75-71 victory.
Binghamton's Kendall Bennett and Megan Casey each scored 23 points while Bennett pulled down 11 boards, combining for the double-double.
Next Up
The Highlanders will hit the road for a long trip up to New Hampshire (January 8) and Maine (January 10). Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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