VESTAL, N.Y. – Taye Matthews reached double-figures with a 15-point performance, but it wasn't enough to hold off a hot-shooting Binghamton side as the Raiders fell to the Bearcats, 82-54, in the non-league finale Saturday afternoon inside the Events Center.
COACH BUSH'S COMMENTS
"We battled this afternoon but struggled to finish on the offensive end. I was proud of several of the defensive runs that we created with our pressure and our effort on the offensive glass. We will get back to work after a much needed reset for the holidays. Our group is resilient and will be ready to start Patriot League play in Hamilton. We're thrilled to have Madison Schiller back in uniform. Her toughness, leadership and high IQ will bolster us as we prepare for conference play."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Colgate kept pace early, competing on the glass and generating balanced scoring. The Raiders were led offensively by Matthews, who finished with a team-high 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field and 2-of-5 from downtown. Madison Schiller added 10 points to give the Raiders two double-figure scorers.
Binghamton built a double-digit lead, 17-6, after scoring the first five points of the second quarter. A 3-pointer from Abbey Ferguson cut the margin to 29-19 with 3:32 remaining, but the Bearcats closed the half on a 6-0 run to lead 35-19 at the intermission.
The Raiders trailed by 18 in the third quarter when a driving layup from Ella Meabon sparked a 10-2 Colgate surge. She had five points during the run capped off by a trifecta from Matthews to slice the deficit to 41-31 with six minutes remaining in the third.
Binghamton gradually extended its lead from there, using a 14-3 run over the next five minutes to lead 55-34, which would be its margin through three quarters after trading buckets down the stretch. Matthews connected on her second trifecta of the contest and Ferguson sank a driving layup before the term ended.
Binghamton opened the final frame on a 9-0 run to establish its largest lead of the night, 66-36.
Meabon contributed across the stat sheet with seven points and a team-best three assists, while Colgate's bench provided steady energy throughout the contest. Schiller scored six points in the quarter behind her first 3-pointer of the season, and Lara Cook's first trey of the game capped Colgate's scoring in the 82-54 final.
NOTES
- Colgate's 18 offensive rebounds were a season high, eclipsing its previous high of 16 against Ithaca. The Raiders' advantage on the glass led to a 17-13 edge in second-chance points.
- Christina Midgette corralled 12 rebounds, a career-high mark. She bested her previous high of 10, which she had matched twice most recently at St. Bonaventure (11/23/24).
- Madison Schiller made her first appearance since suffering a season-ending injury last February. The senior played 20 minutes, adding 10 points, four rebounds, and one assist.
UP NEXT
Colgate (4-7) opens Patriot League play Wednesday, Dec. 31, by hosting Lafayette. Tip-off from Cotterell Court is set for 2 p.m.
