FINAL SCORE: Binghamton 66, Vermont 52
VESTAL, N.Y. – Rookies Lauren Handy and Hayley Robertson put up double-figure scoring against the Bearcats, but it was Binghamton who came out on top 66-52 on Tuesday night at the Events Center. Vermont drops to 7-19 (2-11) on the season, while Binghamton improves to 11-15 (6-7).
 
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"We once again failed to put together four complete quarters and our ineffectiveness in the second quarter was the difference," said head coach Lori Gear McBride. "Other than that, which was significant, we played well enough to win."
 
Handy led the Catamounts in scoring as she put together a new career-high 17 points on four three-pointers (4-for-7) and shot 60-percent from the field. Robertson tallied 12 points on the evening, dished out six assists and grabbed five boards for Vermont. Katie Lavelle produced a team and career-high 10 rebounds and registered three steals.  

Kim Albrect collected 19 points and three rebounds for Binghamton, while Alyssa James added 15 points. Imani Watkins completed a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Vermont took an early 9-7 lead, fueled by four points from Handy, but Binghamton went on a 15-2 run to open the second quarter. The Bearcats created a 28-15 cushion over Vermont with 5:23 to play in the half.
 
Back-to-back three pointers by Robertson cut into Binghamton's lead (31-18), but Watkins and Albrecht each connected on a pair from the free throw line in the final two minutes. The Bearcats put together a 38-19 cushon after the first half of play and shot 4-for-6 from three-point range.
 
UVM held Binghamton to just 37-percent (13-for-35) from the field and grabbed 23 first half boards.
 
Candice Wright produced on two trips into Bearcat territory to chip away at Binghamton's 20-point lead (43-23), and Vermont strung together a 9-4 run over the Bearcats. Over the five-minute stretch in the third quarter, UVM went 4-for-6 from the field and picked up a pair of steals.
 
Robertson found Handy behind the arc as the freshman drained a pair of three-balls midway through the fourth, but the Bearcats closed out the conference victory down the stretch. Rachel Merrill added nine points on 4-of-5 shooting in just 12 minutes off the bench in the second half.
 
"Lauren Handy is becoming the player we thought she would be when we signed her and tonight was another big step forward," McBride noted. "Rachel Merrill also gave us some solid minutes in the post."

The Catamounts return home on Saturday (Feb. 20) at 1 p.m. to host UMBC in their annual Rally Against Cancer matchup and Pack the House promotion. The team's pink, game-worn jerseys are being auctioned off now at UVMathletics.com/auctions with proceeds going to the University of Vermont Cancer Center. The jersey auction ends on Monday, February 22 at noon.

Tickets to Saturday's game can be purchased online at UVMathletics.com/tickets, in person at the Athletic Ticket Office located on the balcony in Patrick Gymnasium (Mon - Fri; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.), over the phone during office hours at 802-656-4410, or one hour before game time in the lobby of Patrick Gymnasium.
 
Radio coverage begins 20 minutes prior to tip-off on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com with Jamie Scavatto calling the action. All conference games can also be viewed for free via AmericaEast.tv.