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For Immediate Release: February 07, 2002 Contact: David O'Brian Women's basketball team defies the odds in first year on Division I level | ||||
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Heading into the 2001-02 season, few people knew what to expect of the Binghamton women's basketball team. The Bearcats were starting their first season on the NCAA Division I level after a successful three-year run at the Division II level. Binghamton went 75-13 over the previous three seasons and won back-to-back ECAC Division II titles. Still, competing at the Division I level and in the America East Conference was a big step forward. In the coaches' preseason poll, the Bearcats were picked to finish eighth out of nine conference teams.
Twenty games into the season, however, Binghamton has emerged as a legitimate contender in the America East Conference. With a 63-54 win over Albany on Feb. 6, the Bearcats found themselves with a record of 17-4 and in sole possession of first place in the conference with an 8-2 record. "We are happy to be where we are at this point of the season," head coach Laurie Kelly said. "We are still focused on finishing the season strong but we are excited to have an opportunity to do well at the America East Tournament (which will take place March 7-9)." Binghamton's feat is all the more impressive considering that the RPI index which ranks both individual teams and conferences, has ranked the America East Conference 13th out of 32 women's basketball conferences. As of Feb. 3, Binghamton as a team was ranked 71st out of 315 women's teams. "Binghamton's the real deal," Maine head coach Sharon Versyp said after Binghamton defeated her Black Bears 85-71 on Jan. 19. "I thought we could play with them," Boston head coach Margaret McKeon said after Binghamton defeated the Terriers 64-40 on Jan. 13. "I thought it was a situation where we could beat them but they came out on all cylinders." Despite the presence of three seniors in the starting lineup, Binghamton was a relatively young team coming into the season. Seniors Sarah Cartmill, Brooke Kelly and Leah Truncale were in the starting rotation last year, but there were eight newcomers and just five upperclassmen on the roster. Developing team chemistry would be a big challenge in addition to the upgraded schedule. "We knew it would be a challenge with eight new people on the team," Kelly said. "But we laugh now at how nervous we were at the start of the season. The team is very close and the upperclassmen have really made the freshmen feel welcome. Team chemistry has always been a strength the past several years but this season it's been neat to see how much the players really like each other." | ||||
If there was ever a defining moment for the Bearcats this season, it came late in its game against Northeastern on Jan. 13. It was then that Truncale, who was second on the team with 16.2 points per game and led the conference with 11.1 rebounds per game, sustained a torn ACL. After being named the America East Player of the Week twice, Truncale was a contender to be named the conference Player of the Year. Even though Binghamton was 11-3 at the time, Truncale's injury put a cloud of uncertainty over Binghamton's conference hopes.
Instead of folding, however, Binghamton regrouped and continued its winning ways. Four days after Truncale's injury, they traveled to Stony Brook and pulled off a 61-50 win. Three days later, the Bearcats faced a Maine team that had handed them a 63-62 overtime loss earlier in the year. Binghamton avenged that loss with its highest-scoring game of the year, as it won 85-71. Overall, Binghamton won five out of its first six games after Truncale's injury. "The two games that followed Leah's injury were our best two games of the year," Kelly said. "We played against Stony Brook and Maine with a lot of emotion and confidence. We realize that Leah is irreplaceable as a player but we have had two or three people really take on more responsibility since she went down and that has made all the difference." Cartmill, who led the squad with 19.1 points per game a year ago, has made a smooth adjustment to the Division I level. She has averaged 17 points per game and has been one of the top scorers in the America East Conference. In Binghamton's 62-56 win at New Hampshire on Feb. 3, she led all scorers with 26 points and pulled down a season-high 14 rebounds. Earlier in the season, she scored a season-high 30 points against Maine on Jan. 3. "Sarah has shown great leadership since Leah got hurt," Kelly said. "She has risen to the challenge in big games this year and her rebounds have increased. She had to really shoulder a lot of responsibility after Leah's injury but she has handled it very well." Leading the underclassmen has been sophomore point guard Kate Townley. Last season, she played behind Bess Greenberg, who was a Division II All-American. She also played backup minutes at the wing position. With Cartmill and Truncale in the lineup, Townley wasn't asked to score much this season. That all changed following Truncale's injury, and Townley responded by averaging 11.0 points per game in addition to her conference-leading 4.1 assists per game in the seven games that followed. "Kate is a smart player and she too has had to step it up since Leah got hurt," Kelly said. "She never had to worry about scoring but she has become much more of an offensive threat. She has very good instincts not just with assists with also with steals." Also gaining a larger role for the Bearcats following Truncale's injury has been sophomore center Nicole Dypolt. After having an injury-plagued freshman season, Dypolt has stayed healthy and was inserted into the starting lineup. Truncale was the team's leading blocker with 2.9 swats per game. Dypolt, however, has fit into that role. Against Northeastern on Jan. 24, she blocked a career-high six shots. "Nicole was forced to take on a different role after Leah got hurt," Kelly said. "Still this will prepare her for next season. She has a lot of untapped potential and her teammates have gained a lot more confidence playing with her. She is a great defensive post player." It all adds up to what has already been a memorable year for Binghamton and has the potential to be even more special before the season ends. "We like where we are now," said Kelly. "But there are some very important games left. We have to stay focused to keep doing well." | ||||
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