VESTAL, N.Y. (Interstat) — Kendall Bennett recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds as Binghamton edged Albany 63-61 in a women’s basketball game Thursday afternoon at the Events Center. The Bearcats (12-5) built a 39-34 halftime lead and held off a late charge from the Great Danes (11-6). Albany’s Delanie Hill scored a game-high 18 points and Martina Borrellas added 17 points and nine rebounds. Binghamton’s Bella Pucci contributed 12 points. Binghamton survived despite scoring only nine points in the fourth quarter. Albany had a chance to tie or win on its final possession but could not convert. An announced crowd of 4,671 attended the America East Conference matchup.

VESTAL, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a tense America East Conference clash defined by defensive stands and critical plays in the final minute, the Binghamton Bearcats edged the Albany Great Danes 63-61 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday afternoon at the Events Center. Binghamton, which improved to 12-5 overall, survived a furious fourth-quarter rally by Albany, now 11-6, by securing key defensive rebounds and converting late free throws in front of a crowd of 4,671. The game’s decisive sequence unfolded in the final 30 seconds with Binghamton clinging to a 62-61 lead. Albany’s Martina Borrellas drove for a potential go-ahead layup, but Binghamton’s Kendall Bennett, the game’s standout performer, rose for a crucial block. The rebound was tied up, and the possession arrow favored the Bearcats with 15 seconds remaining. After a Binghamton timeout, Albany was forced to foul. Kaia Goode sank the first of two free throws to extend the lead to 63-61 but missed the second. Bennett secured the offensive rebound, and Albany’s last chance, a three-point attempt by Delanie Hill as time expired, missed the mark. The contest was a tale of contrasting strengths. Albany built an early lead, finishing the first quarter up 23-19 behind efficient three-point shooting. The Great Danes hit 8 of 19 from beyond the arc for the game. Binghamton, however, controlled the interior, outscoring Albany 32-20 in the paint and outrebounding them 11-9 on the offensive glass. Binghamton took command in the second quarter, outscoring Albany 20-11 to carry a 39-34 advantage into halftime. The Bearcats extended their lead to as many as nine points in the third quarter and led 54-47 heading into the final period. Albany’s resilience surfaced in the fourth. A 9-2 run, capped by a Julia Palomo three-pointer with 2:44 remaining, tied the game at 58. The teams traded baskets, with Bella Pucci giving Binghamton a 60-58 lead on a driving layup with 1:20 left. Hill answered with a three-pointer 30 seconds later to put Albany back in front 61-60, setting the stage for the dramatic finish. Bennett, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Philadelphia, was instrumental for Binghamton, recording a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to go with a block and a steal. Her interior presence and late-game block were pivotal. Bella Pucci added 12 points and four rebounds, while Meghan Casey contributed 10 points, five rebounds and three assists. Carletta Bennett provided a spark off the bench with 13 points, including three three-pointers. Albany was led by Delanie Hill’s 18 points and Martina Borrellas’s 17 points and nine rebounds. Borrellas, a junior from Barcelona, Spain, also tallied two assists and two steals. Amaya Stewart added nine points off the bench for the Great Danes. Statistically, the game was remarkably even. Both teams committed a similar number of turnovers, steals, and blocks. Albany’s slight edge in three-point shooting and free-throw percentage was countered by Binghamton’s superior field goal percentage overall and dominance in the paint. The victory extends Binghamton’s winning streak to four games and solidifies their position near the top of the conference standings. The loss for Albany snaps a two-game winning streak and marks another close defeat in a season featuring several narrow setbacks. Binghamton next travels to face Maryland-Baltimore County on Saturday. Albany will look to rebound quickly with a road game at Vermont, also on Saturday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Albany on Feb. 14.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — A pivotal early America East Conference clash awaits Thursday afternoon when the Albany Great Danes visit the Binghamton Bearcats, with both women’s basketball teams carrying identical 11-5 records into the matchup. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Binghamton University Events Center in Vestal, New York. The game features a stark contrast in recent momentum. Binghamton (11-5, 3-0 America East) rides a five-game winning streak, including an emphatic 80-52 road victory at UMass Lowell on Saturday. Albany (11-5, 1-2) looks to rebound from a 55-62 league loss at Bryant that same day, which snapped a two-game win streak. A key matchup will be in the frontcourt, where Binghamton’s standout forward Kendall Bennett poses a significant challenge. Bennett is coming off a dominant 26-point, 8-rebound performance and has averaged 18.4 points and 8.2 rebounds over her last five games. Her ability to score and protect the rim (11 blocks in that span) will be central to the Bearcats’ game plan. Albany will counter with guard Gabriela Falcao, a versatile playmaker. Falcao struggled offensively in the loss to Bryant (12 points) but has shown a well-rounded game recently, contributing in rebounds, assists, and steals. Containing Bennett while jumpstarting their own offense, which managed just 55 points on Saturday, will be critical for the Great Danes. Beyond the stars, Binghamton’s balance was on display against UMass Lowell, with Bella Pucci adding 16 points and Yanniah Boyd 11. Albany received 13 points from Martina Borrellas in the Bryant loss. The teams’ identical overall records mask their diverging conference starts. Binghamton aims to protect its perfect league mark at home, while Albany seeks to avoid a 1-3 conference slide before heading to Vermont on Saturday. The rematch is scheduled for Feb. 14 in Albany. Projected Starters (Based on Recent Minutes): Albany: G Gabriela Falcao, G Martina Borrellas, G Julia Palomo, F, F. Binghamton: G Yanniah Boyd, G, F Kendall Bennett, F Bella Pucci, C. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.