Viive Rebane Andrea Holmes - Binghamton University Bearcats

March 7, 1998
ncaa division III second round
Elmira 82
Binghamton 73
Binghamton, N.Y. — After the most successful and dominating season in
the program’s 25-year history, BU (22-3) was given the region’s top seed, and
after a first-round bye hosted the fifth-seeded Soaring Eagles before a record
1,865 West Gym fans. Binghamton, ranked fifth in the nation and undefeated
(16-0) against Division III opponents, had the added advantage of playing an
Elmira team that had lost its leading scorer to a knee injury one day earlier. The
Soaring Eagles responded, however, with 11-for-23 shooting from three-point
range, and BU hit just nine second-half field goals after converting 18 in the
opening period. The Colonials extended a two-point halftime lead to nine early
in the second stanza, before Elmira responded with a 21-6 run. With 3:57 to
play, BU pulled to within two, 73-71, but the Soaring Eagles drilled yet another
three-pointer, and converted four free throws in the final two minutes to seal
the win. It was a disappointing end to the stellar careers of seniors Stephanie
Rom, Cathy Mackin and Alicia Koppenhoefer. Sophomore forward
Karen McClelland scored a game-high 28 points with 10 rebounds, and
Koppenhoefer and freshman guard Bess Greenberg added 13 points each.
The game was the final Division III game for Binghamton’s basketball program.
March 4, 1999
ncaa division II first round
Binghamton 63
Stonehill 64
Waltham, Mass. — After winning the Division II New England Collegiate
Conference championship in the program’s first year, BU advanced to the
Northeast Regional hosted by top-seeded Bentley College (Mass.). There,
third-seeded BU came up short by the narrowest of margins, and saw its
record-breaking season come to a close. The Colonials led by six, 64-58,
with 2:31 to play, but were outscored 7-0 to end the game. All-American
sophomore guard Bess Greenberg scored a game-high 20 points, but was
held without a point for the final 8:33. Greenberg’s 11 points keyed a 21-6 BU
run that turned an eight-point deficit into a seven-point lead with just over
six minutes to play. Stonehill drained a crucial three-pointer with 1:35 left,
and sank a pair of free throws with 0:57 remaining for the final margin. After
a Chieftans front-end miss at the foul line with 16 seconds left, freshman
forward Leah Truncale rebounded and BU raced up the floor with one final
chance to win the game and advance. The Colonials could not get the ball in
Greenberg’s hands, however, and senior guard Maryanne Prendergast was
left with a rushed layup attempt that was off the mark as the buzzer sounded.
Truncale went 8-for-12 for 18 points and 13 rebounds, and senior forward
Karen McClelland chipped in 13 points — including 11 in the first half that
kept BU from falling behind further than the eight-point hole at the break.
NCAA TOURNAMENT GAMES
Binghamton hosted its second-round game in the 1998 NCAA Division III Tournament.
Maryanne Prendergast
B i n g h a m T o n U n i v e R s i T y B a s k e T B a l l
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