Lady Bearcats rally, fall short against Vermont

1/16/2013 (Updated 11:00:25 PM)

VESTAL, N.Y.  Niki Taylor and Annie Wheeler each finished with 14 points and seven rebounds as Vermont (6-11, 3-1 AE) held off Binghamton (2-16, 1-4 AE) 61-56 in an America East womens basketball game on Wednesday night at the Events Center. The loss was the fourth straight setback for the Bearcats.

The defeat overshadowed a game-high and career-high 25-point performance by sophomore forward Sherae Swinson. In the process, she reached the 20-point mark in scoring for the second time this season.

The difference in the game, however, was rebounding. Vermont held a 52-31 advantage for the game and grabbed 16 offensive rebounds. In addition, with Binghamton continuing to nurse injuries, its bench was outscored 36-3.

We obviously needed to do a better job with our defensive pressure tonight, head coach Nicole Scholl said. We were shorthanded and the players out there for us did what we asked but we didnt do a good job rebounding.

Taylor netted 10 of her points in the opening 20 minutes as the Catamounts took a 30-19 lead at the half. The Bearcats, meanwhile, shot just 29 percent before the break (7-of-24).

The second half, however, was a different story, as the Bearcats scored 37 points and shot 42 percent (13-of-31). Swinson led the surge with 16 of her points over the final 20 minutes.

Down 46-33 with 10:13 left in regulation, the Bearcats went on a 12-3 run to pull to within 49-45 with 7:35 left to go. Swinson had five of her points during that stretch.

Junior guard Stephanie Jensen drained a three pointer, pulling Binghamton to within 59-56 at the 48-second mark.

On the ensuing possession, however, Taylor and Tonya Conley each had a clutch offensive rebound off a missed field goal. Conley was fouled after her rebound and made one of two free throws with 16 seconds left to go.

Tierra Shumpert iced the game by hitting a final free throw with 12 seconds remaining. She finished the game with seven points, six rebounds and a game-high 10 assists.

Junior guard Jasbriell Swain added 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Binghamton travels to Maine on Sunday for a 2 p.m. game.

NOTES: Swinson and Taylor were the America East Players of the Game  Swinsons previous career high of 23 points came against Austin Peay back on Nov. 18  in the past two games, Swinson has averaged 21.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.

(Courtesy: BU Athletics)

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