Box score
ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell women's basketball team dominated the glass, but could not overcome first half offensive struggles as Binghamton held on for a 56-51 victory over the Big Red on Monday evening at Newman Arena. The Big Red saw its 11-game home win streak snapped in falling to 4-7, while the Bearcats improved to 5-8.
Lauren Benson had a solid all-around effort, scoring 14 points, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing off four assists, while
Shannan Scarselletta notched her first double-double of the year with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The duo helped Cornell outrebound the Bearcats 44-30, including 19-9 on the offensive glass.
Allie Fedorowicz was also in double figures with 11 points and added three steals in the loss.
Andrea Holmes was a one-person show, scoring a game-high 24 points and adding five rebounds and four assists as the lone Binghamton player in double figures. Erica Carter and Theodora Panteli chipped in with nine points apiece. BU shot 42 percent from the floor and forced 20 Big Red turnovers, limiting the home team to 35 percent shooting on the night.
The Bearcats raced out to a 13-0 lead by hitting their first six shots of the game, but Cornell countered with a 13-0 run of its own to knot the game with 5:52 left in the half. After going scoreless for the first 5:38 of the contest, the Big Red turned the tables on the visitors, forcing BU to miss 13 straight shots in holding the Bearcats without a point for 11:08. Holmes broke that stretch with a 3-pointer with five minutes to play, breaking the drought and pushing the half-ending 13-2 spurt that featured three straight treys by the freshman.
Cornell dominated the glass in the first 20 minutes (22-12), but the combination of 29 percent shooting and 16 turnovers doomed the Big Red offensively. Benson had five points and five rebounds to lead Cornell before picking up her second foul and sitting the final five minutes during the Bearcat run. Holmes had 11 points, three assists and two rebounds in 17 productive minutes in the first half, while Carter chipped in with seven points.
The Big Red got right back into the contest in the second half using gritty defense, outscoring Binghamton 13-4 over the first 5:33 to get within two. The home team finally got over the hump when
Lauren Benson went coast-to-coast for a layup with 9:23 left to make it 36-35, but Holmes answered right back with a layup of her own, followed by a 3-pointer to give Binghamton the lead back at 40-36. Cornell would cut the lead back to two on a
Shannan Scarselletta free throw at the six-minute mark, but BU ran its lead back to eight three possessions later on consecutive baskets by Viive Rebane and a pair of charity shots by Holmes. Cornell wouldn't get within a possession the rest of the way, as Binghamton hit three free throws in the final 45 seconds to hold off the Big Red.
Cornell returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 7, in Lewisburg, Pa. when it meets Patriot League foe Bucknell at 7 p.m.
