Feb. 26, 2008

Stony Brook, N.Y. -

Binghamton Game Notes

Women's Basketball Hosts Binghamton
The Stony Brook women's basketball team hosts state rival Binghamton tonight at the Stony Brook Arena. WUSB 90.1's Jeff Bernstein and Curt Hylton will broadcast all the action beginning at 6:45. Live stats and video are available at GoSeawolves.org.

Last Time vs. Binghamton
Juta Jahilo led a balanced Binghamton attack with 11 points as it defeated the Stony Brook women's basketball team, 59-35, at the Events Center.

Binghamton's advantage in the paint allowed them to go on a 9-0 run before senior Aly Young's (Lodi, Calif.) jumper just inside the three-point line was good as Stony Brook trailed 15-6.

A three-pointer from Erica Carter and two layups from Juta Juhilo gave the Bearcats a 16-point lead, their biggest of the half, before freshman Samantha Norwood (Perth, Australia) knocked down a jumper from the left side. Norwood's five points in the first half led Stony Brook as it trailed 30-15 at the half.

After two free throws from sophomore Kairsten Nunn (Bowie, Md.), Stony Brook used its M.O. of trapping defense to force three turnovers early in the second half. The Seawolves' pressure defense and a spark from Norwood allowed Stony Brook to cut the lead to just 10 with 13:37 remaining in the game. A basket from Brianna Thompson with 12:40 left was the first Binghamton points of the second half.

Binghamton answered back with a 14-1 run to stretch the lead back up to 21 before a three from Nunn halted the run.

Nunn was the spark for the Seawolves in the second half, scoring all 11 of her points in the final 20 minutes to be named America East player of the game.

Ferraro Makes School History
Senior Dana Ferraro's offensive rebound with 6:02 left in the second half made her just the second player in school history with 1,000 career rebounds. Ferraro finished with 11 rebounds and her 26th career double double. Ferraro has recorded double digit rebounds in 52 of 112 career games.

And More History....
At her current pace, Ferraro will lead the America East in rebounding for third straight season. Since the league's inception 23 years ago, only three players have ever led the conference in rebounding at least three straight years. Maine's Liz Coffin lead the Seaboard conference from 84-87 and Maine's Rachel Bouchard led the conference all four years from 87-91.

Alive and Young
After averaging just 4.8 points per game the last five games, senior Aly Young had 18 points vs. Albany. It was her 12th games in double figures this season.

Albany Tops Stony Brook, 65-58
Both teams struggled from the field in the first half, combining to shoot just 10-of-43 in the first 12 minutes. After Misha Horsey (Wyncote, Pa.) hit a jumper to cut Albany's lead to 15-14 with 7:26 remaining, Albany went on a 9-0 run, helped by two threes from Kristin Higy, to take a 10-point advantage.

Trailing 29-17 at the half and after Gia Sanders hit a jumper for Albany, Stony Brook started to regain its shooting touch. A basket from senior Dana Ferraro (Middlesex, N.J.) and a three from Horsey cut the lead to 29-24. Higy answered the Stony Brook surge with a three and Tanika Thrower had a layup to give Albany its fourth double-digit lead of the game, 34-24.

The Seawolves got hot and used a 12-0 run over four and a half minutes to take a 36-34 lead. Young had seven points during the spurt as SBU took advantage of five Albany missed five shots and five turnovers.

With 6:02 remaining in the game Ferraro's offensive rebound, her eighth of the game, enabled her to became just the second player in Stony Brook women's basketball history to record 1,000 career rebounds. She finished with a game-high 11.

The action went back and forth as the lead exchanged hands 10 times. After sophomore Crystal Rushin (Valley Stream, N.Y.) drove the lane and hit a layup, the Seawolves went cold and Albany utilized a 9-0 run to take a commanding 62-54 lead. Albany hit five free throws in the final minute of the game for a 65-58 win.

Young's 18 points earned her America East player of the game honors. Ferraro's 10 points and 11 boards was the 26th double double she's recorded. Freshmen Kirsten Jeter added 10 points and seven rebounds.