BOSTON – The top four seeds all advanced out of the quarterfinals of the Jersey Mike’s Women’s Basketball Playoffs, with three of the four contests decided by double figures on Thursday evening.
No. 6 Binghamton almost pulled off an upset for the second consecutive year at Bryant, but the third seeded Bulldogs outscored the Bearcats 8-4 over the last two minutes to come away with the 66-63 victory. Bryant will travel to No. 2 Vermont which dispatched No. 7 UMBC 70-39 in its quarterfinal contest. Tip-off for that semifinal will take place at 6 pm on Monday.
Top seed UAlbany led No. 8 UNH 42-36 after three quarters, but finished the game on a 24-8 run to secure the victory. The Great Danes will welcome rival Maine, who outlasted No. 5 NJIT 65-51 with a strong fourth quarter. Monday’s second semifinal will tipoff at 6:30 p.m.
For full playoff coverage, including box scores, highlights, photos and more, visit Playoff Central.
No. 1 UAlbany 66, No. 8 New Hampshire 44
- The Wildcats jumped out to an early 9-4 lead midway through the period, however, the Great Danes scored the final nine points of the period to lead 13-9.
- UAlbany stretched its lead to 26-12 at 3:49 left in the period, before a 9-0 UNH run cut it back to 28-21.
- In the third UNH refused to go away and eventually trimmed the deficit to just five, 39-34, with 1:07 left in the period. The Wildcats trailed just 42-26 after three quarters.
- It was all Great Danes in the fourth, outscoring UNH 24-8 and earning the 22-point victory.
- Lilly Phillips led four players in double figures for UAlbany with 15 points, three rebounds and three assists, while Kayla Cooper had 12 points and five assists.
No. 2 Vermont 70, No. 7 UMBC 39
- UMBC came out hot early, grabbing an 11-6 lead on a triple by Jaliena Sanchez and leading 13-11 after one quarter.
- Vermont settled down, took back the lead and extended it to 22-15 on a Keira Hanson three midway through the period. Vermont led 27-22 at the break thanks to another late Hanson three.
- UMBC trailed just 32-29 midway through the third quarter, but the Catamounts finished the period on a 10-3 run to lead 42-32 after 30 minutes.
- Vermont was dominant in the fourth outscoring the Retrievers 28-7 in the period as it came away with a 31-point victory.
- Nikola Priede posted 19 points, three blocks and four rebounds, while Bella Vito added 18 points and 12 rebounds. Keira Hanson supplied 17 points, including five threes off the bench.
No. 3 Bryant 66, No. 6 Binghamton 63
- The Bulldogs jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first and led 18-6 following the opening ten minutes.
- Binghamton came back and used six straight points to make it a 23-21 contest, however Nia Scott scored before the end of the half for a 25-21 lead.
- Bryant stretched its lead up to 44-30 with three minutes left in the third and led 52-41 after three quarters.
- A 10-2 run by Binghamton cut it to a 54-51 led midway through the period and Yanniah Boyd gave the Bearcats a 59-58 lead with just 2:03 remaining. Maranda Nyborg answered with a three-point play as Bryant came away with the three-point win.
- Nia Scott led Bryant with 22 points, 13 rebounds and two steals while Mimi Rubino added 19 points and four triples. Kendall Bennett anchored Binghamton with 19 points and five boards.
No. 4 Maine 65, No. 5 NJIT 51
- The Black Bears jumped out to a 5-0 lead and grabbed an 18-10 advantage tin the opening ten minutes.
- Sera Hodgson extended their lead to 21-10 in the second and Maine led 31-21 in the waning seconds of the period before Marissa Gingrich drilled a jumped to make it 31-23.
- NJIT’s defense came alive as they opening the period on an 11-2 run, capped off by a Gingrich triple to give the Highlanders a 34-33 lead. Maine went back in front but led just 38-35 after three.
- The Black Bears scored the first seven points of the fourth and never looked back as they outscored NJIT 27-16 in the period for the 14-point win.
- Asta Blauenfeldt had 22 points, nine rebounds and two steals while Caroline Bornemann added 15 points, seven assists and five boards.
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