(Akron, Ohio) -- Saturday afternoon, the Delaware State women's basketball team (0-2) wrapped up the Akron Classic with a 90-84 loss to the Binghamton Bearcats (1-1), despite three Lady Hornets scoring in double figures and two players recording double-doubles.
Similar to yesterday's loss to Northern Kentucky, the Lady Hornets found themselves in early foul trouble totaling 14 in the first half with four players committing at least two. As a result, despite shooting 53 percent (8-of-15) from the charity stripe, BU led by as many as 12 and outscored the Lady Hornets 18-8 in the final 8:35 to take a 42-33 lead into the locker room at the break.
As a team, Binghamton shot 52 percent (15-of-29), headlined by guard Imani Watkins' 18 points (6-of-8) and seven rebounds, while running mate Kim Albrecht added 10 points (4-of-6). Both players also went 2-for-4 (.500) from 3-point range.
DSU, meanwhile, shot 40 percent (15-of-38), led by forward Amber Bogard's 10 points (4-of-5). However, three fouls limited her to only nine minutes of action, whereas forward Tierra Hawkins, who had a game-high 20 points (8-of-15) against Northern Kentucky, struggled on just 1-of-12 (.083) shooting.
The second stanza featured guard Jasmine Sina draining one of her two treys in Saturday's contest to give BU its largest lead at the 14:13 mark, 57-43.
But, Delaware State slowly chipped away by getting to free throw line with BU committing 15 fouls. Consequently, the Hornets cut the margin to six on four different occasions, beginning with guard Raven Bankston hitting a free throw to complete a three-point play, followed by a midrange jumper on the following possession with 2:24 left.
Nevertheless, the Bearcats answered by going a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe down the stretch to seal the win for first-year head coach Sherae Swinson.
At game's end, four BU players scored in double figures, led by Albrecht dropping a game-high 27 points and Watkins finishing with 21 points. Both players also went 7-of-13 (.538) from the field, whereas Albrecht was perfect at the free throw line (10-of-10) and Watkins ripping down a team-high nine rebounds. As a unit, the Bearcats went 27-of-35 from the free throw line, including 95 percent (19-of-20) output in the second half.
For the Lady Hornets, they put forth a better effort on the offensive end with a 19-of-33 (.576) output in the second half, while Hawkins rebounded from a slow start to finish with a team-high 22 points (10-of-24). Hawkins also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season, whereas Bogard did the same with 17 points (6-of-8) and 10 boards.
In the backcourt, Bankston finished 22 points (9-of-19), five rebounds and a game-high five assists.
Coming up next, the Lady Hornets will travel to Fairfax, Va. to face the George Mason Patriots out of the Atlantic 10. Last season, DSU came away with a 90-83 overtime victory at home over the Patriots.
